How to Know If a Career Change May Be Right For You

With each passing year, you may begin to feel stuck or bored in your job and chosen career path. Maybe you have been in the same job for many years, or you have been at the same company and have held many different positions but still do not feel fulfilled. Or, maybe you started a new job recently, but the job is not what you expected it would be. 

Are you happy with your current job? Do you need to find a new career path due to lack of employment in your vocational field of choice?

For many people, the fourth wall of their lives came crashing down after spending a year or more in quarantine. Viewpoints either changed with the times or became more retrospectively defined. Employment prospects and unemployment realities also changed. Prior to COVID-19 the need to change jobs was perhaps less emphatic than it is for many people today. 

People are reassessing careers now either out of financial, emotional or sheer availability-based necessities. What are the top signs I might need a change of careers? What do I do first when I need to change my job fast? Read ahead for information and tips on how to know if a career change may be right for you in 2021.

I Want to Change Careers—What Do I Do?

Embarking on a career change can be a huge decision with widespread implications. Reasons for wanting to change careers vary with each person and situation. Some people feel guilty for wanting to change jobs, especially after working the same one for a significant length of time. Reasons for feeling guilty might include potentially forcing a change of location on your spouse and/or family. Perhaps you acquired friends through your place of employment and will miss spending time with them.

Ultimately the decision to change careers has to be about what is in your best interest, whether the change is based on either wants or needs. If you have a family your best interest no doubt also includes the collective best interest of your family, even if it does mean moving to another town, city or state. If you are feeling guilty about wanting to change careers, try asking yourself this question: If you do not make the change will you and/or your family regret it the rest of your life?

Top Career Change Signs & Symptoms

Many signs and symptoms help you know if a career change is right for you. Some are more prominent than others. It is possible for numerous signs & symptoms to apply in random ways to multiple U.S. workers, but not all signs or symptom share equal importance with every employee. If you are experiencing one or more of the following signs or symptoms, however, it might be a sign you need to change your career fast.

Financial Hardship/Duress

Money matters when it comes to career choices. Money is not the top priority for some U.S. workers, especially in households where another primary breadwinner makes it easy for you to work a job you love regardless of salary. 

This is not the common scenario, however, and most people work jobs because they need to earn enough to pay for bills and lifestyles of choice. If you are not earning enough to get by, it might be time to think of a career change fast.

Increased Stress

Does the thought of going to work make you feel stressed? Are you feeling more stressed at home even on off-days? Workplace-induced stress is as dangerous as any other stress. A career change might reduce stress and increase your long-term health at the same time.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a terrible thing to endure and overcome. Fatigue is caused by physical, emotional and mental exertion. Are you working too hard at your job? Does your job tax your brain to the point of listlessness? Change your jobs to get more energy back into your life.

Depression

Depression is a serious topic, the full likes of which cannot be discussed properly in this article. Workplace-caused depression is as serious as any other type. If you are feeling depressed due to your job you might not even know it is your job causing the issue. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) facilitates a 24/7 hotline open 365 days/year if you are feeling overrun by depression, work-based or other. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889 (TTY) to discuss changes you need to make to help with your depression today. 

Feeling Unchallenged/Unfulfilled

Does your old job have you feeling unchallenged? Do you know you are capable of accomplishing more? Perhaps you have become unfulfilled with your duties and simply need a change of scenery. Feeling unchallenged and unfulfilled are two huge signs you might need a career change soon.

Loss of Confidence

Becoming stuck in a job you no longer like sometimes results in a loss of confidence in yourself and your life path. Doing the same unfulfilling job over and over again all the while struggling financially is brutal on your sense of self-worth. Getting a new job with new responsibilities (and better pay) helps boost confidence fast.

Need to Change Jobs Fast – How Do I Do It?

One way to change jobs fast is to reassess your skill sets and experience, create a new resume and upload it to various online job-search-based website services. 

Advanced technology and screening and hiring systems help get your resume in front of more prospective employers faster than ever before. Be certain to fully assess what type of new career path you want to pursue. 

Do you need more advanced education to change careers? Do you want to relocate to one of the top U.S. cities for new employment opportunities in 2021 or are you ready to start a new job right away? Once your decision is made, upload your updated resume to one of the following top job-placement/search sites available today:

• Indeed
• Monster
• Glassdoor
• LinkedIn Job Search
• USAJobs.gov
• Robert Half
• SimplyHired
• ZipRecruiter