Have you been working the same job for several years, and have you begun to feel stuck? Do you find yourself daydreaming about what you would do if only you had the chance to get out from under your current circumstances?
If so, it’s possible that you need a career change. But, before making any sudden moves, consider these ten signs that you might need to consider taking tafe courses and changing your career. Also, make sure that jumping ship isn’t the worst decision you could make right now.
1) When your heart isn’t in it
When settling into your daily grind, it can be challenging to identify when you should make a change. However, there are telltale signs that you might require professional growth. For example, if work has become so routine that it feels more like something you have to do than something you want to do, or if you feel as though you spend more time at work and less time with family and friends because of your current role is eating away at your social life.
The chances are that sticking around isn’t best for your mental or physical health. If one (or all) of these situations sounds familiar, consider taking tafe courses.
2) Lack of learning
If you’re finding yourself in your job every day, it might be time to ask yourself if you’re underqualified for your position. Feeling like you have nothing to learn is never a good sign. This could indicate that it’s time to go back to school or explore some tafe courses. There are also lots of ways to dive into new topics and pick up new skills through volunteer work. Find something that works for you and jump in!
3) Lack of growth
There’s something to be said for steady employment, but sticking around is no point if you aren’t being challenged or rewarded. Sometimes employees fall into ruts where they do repetitive tasks or feel unfulfilled. While these feelings can be genuine, we should remind ourselves that it doesn’t take much effort to improve our circumstances.
If your career is not offering room for growth, you should consider changing to further your career goals and help with overall job satisfaction. It is highly recommend looking into taking some tafe courses. They offer people that want to change careers invaluable skills and training with guidance from experienced industry professionals.
4) Lack of passion
Working at something that doesn’t inspire you makes it easy to feel burned out and stuck. To get unstuck, think about what would most invigorate you as an employee. If your current career is not doing it for you, start searching for jobs in industries that better align with your interests. The key is never to stop exploring options; if nothing else, staying open-minded might help improve your current job performance and give you a few ideas for improving things.
5) Lack of income
If you cannot pay bills or are in debt, your career might not be conducive to your long-term goals. However, even if your short-term goals are being met, continual money problems could indicate it’s time to change.
Before you call it quits, though, make sure there isn’t something more you can do within your current position to earn more money. Then, if things still don’t work out, move on! It will only hurt you to stay in a job where earning income is an uphill battle.
6) Lack of purpose/meaning
If you’re doing something you don’t love, it can feel like nothing else in your life matters. However, when it comes to your career, you want to think that your work is meaningful and essential; if you don’t, what will motivate you to go above and beyond? To find work that matters, ask yourself:
- Why does my job matter?
- What would happen if I wasn’t there?
- And how does my job make my community or company better?
The more answers that arise for these questions, the more impactful your job will be and—you guessed it—the more likely you are to do well in that role. It’s also worth noting that having purpose/meaning at work has increased productivity and decreased absenteeism!
7) Working for someone else
Among the most frequent reason people find it difficult to feel fulfilled in their career is that they’re settling for work that doesn’t align with their values. If you can find opportunities to do more of what you love (even if it means taking on some risk and uncertainty) or even consider starting your own business, there’s likely a way to create something more fulfilling than what you have now.
Here are some questions to ask yourself if you think it might be time for a change:
- Do I feel stuck?
- Am I ready for something new?
- Am I pursuing passions outside of my work?
- Does work feel like work every day?
- Do I want different things out of life?
- Is it hard to get up and go to work each morning?
- Do I feel disappointed at home?
- Is my job making me sick?
- Have I tried everything within reason at my current job?
- Are others telling me they see my potential beyond where I am now?
In general, our careers tend to last about 20 years. Given that we spend so much time working during our lives, it makes sense to make sure we’re doing meaningful work—or at least looking for ways to improve how we spend our days. Remember: It’s never too late!
8) Contribution to society
It’s easy to get caught up in material things. Even if you have a job that you love, there might be other things about your life that leave you disappointed.
If so, ask yourself: do I have an original contribution? This can be hard for some people. It’s essential to recognize your strengths and ensure they match what you want out of life. If not, there are ways to find meaning elsewhere (more on later).
9) Doing the same thing over and over again
When was your most recent check-in with yourself and asked, Do I love what I do? If it’s been a while, take it as an opportunity to reflect on whether or not your day-to-day work life is still what you thought it would be. As millennials continue to dominate companies across industries, many find themselves wanting more from their career than just a steady paycheck and a path toward retirement.
According to research, 75% of millennials are open to new jobs if they allow them more freedom at work. What does that mean for organizations? It implies that offering opportunities to collaborate with peers (while embracing team spirit) could be just what millennials need—and want—to feel more satisfied at work.
10) Not being able to imagine doing anything else
If you feel trapped in your current job, it may be time to think about switching gears. Some people are happy doing one thing for most of their lives, and they’ll take every opportunity to learn more about that field.
Other people grow bored with what they’re doing and want something new, making it difficult to imagine being happy in another career. If you’ve been working at your job for more than two years without a significant raise or promotion, ask yourself if there isn’t room for advancement—or because you’re no longer excited by what you do.
Conclusion
As you can see, determining whether or not you need to make a career change is no easy task. The list that we have made is by no means exhaustive but covers most of what I have learned over time. Hopefully, you will find some signs that resonate with your situation and offer motivation to look at your career in a new light!
