How to know when to change careers
If you are wondering how to know when to change careers, I have some thoughts to share. I also asked colleagues for their feedback.
In 2025, the job market is not awesome, so it might seem like bad timing to change careers, but sometimes it makes sense to do so because your current career field is dying or your soul is because you hate your work so much.
One key question is this, “Are you still interested in solving problems in your current career field?” If the answer is, “Yes,” then there might still be gold left to mine in your current career path. If the answer is, “No,” then it is possible that a career change would cause a happier outcome for you than continuing on your current career path.
Photo by Kent Banes on Unsplash
“It is time to change careers...
- When you dread waking up in the morning to head into work.
- When you are living for the weekend.
- When you are only in it for the health insurance (or insert something else practical here).
- When you've lost sight of the mission.
- When you don't feel like you fit with your professional community.
- When you don't align with the organizational values.
- When you're not using your innate talents and strengths.
- When your physical health is negatively impacted.
- When life feels uninspired.” ~ Dr. Lynn Chang, Career Zen
“It is probably time to change careers when you are bored, dread going to work, feel like things are mechanic, or just don't get any satisfaction at work. If you find yourself complaining frequently to your friends and family about your job but nothing ever really changes, it's time to consider a new career.” ~ Kristen Fife, Senior Recruiter
“There are two sources of change that may prompt someone to make a career change: external and internal. External changes are when your industry is dying due to lack of market share or resources. Maybe there is a lack of opportunity or advancement. If you hit a ceiling in one career, you may need to change careers or add tools to your career toolbox in the form of new knowledge, skills, and experiences to make a strategic move. Internal changes are when the job satisfaction or passion are gone from a job and the pay and benefits are not enough to compensate for the misery. When this happens, career dissatisfaction can spill into your personal life in a way that is truly unhealthy. I believe the work you do should make the life you want possible. If the current career isn't working, take steps to change it.” ~ DeAnne Pearson, Deliberate Careers
Once you make a decision that you want to change careers, the next steps are to identify what you want to do next and to implement a career change. The more dramatic your career change, meaning you plan to change your job function, industry, and geography or some combination of these variables, the longer your career change may take. My experience is that once a career changer has a plan and is taking specific action plans to reach their goal, they may feel better than when they were in the contemplation stages alone. Courtesy of Indeed, here is a 9-step plan to change your career path at any age.
Have you made a career change and you want to share your story for publication? Please contact me.
I first published this article on 2017-09-28 at VocationVillage.com. I updated this version.
