5 Signs It's Time for a Career Change
A New Job May Be Calling Your Name

Are you ready for a career change? If so, you're not alone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average U.S. worker will have between three and five different careers in a lifetime. But how can you be sure you're ready to take the dive? Read on to discover five signs it might be time to make a career change.

1. You're Feeling Burned Out

Though you once enjoyed going to work, it's now a chore to drag yourself out of bed. And once you settle into your cubicle, you have a hard time keeping your eyes away from the clock and counting down the hours until it's time to leave. You may have changed teams or employers, but the burnout persists -- which may be a sign to switch careers.

If you're feeling the strain both mentally and physically, it time to find a new job that fits you better. A well-planned career change may provide the relief you need for a more comfortable work environment.

2. The Future Outlook in Your Career Field is Grim

If it looks like getting another job in your field will be more difficult in the future, it may be time to look elsewhere. Though the demand for workers continues to grow in some career fields -- such as health care and technology -- other fields fizzle. If you work with products that are quickly becoming obsolete, it may be time to pull your head out of the sand and look around.

While some career fields continue to grow, others are feeling the pinch of thick competition. Keep your ear to the ground, and if you think it's time to change careers, act fast.

3. Your Job Bores You

We all have humdrum days and difficult coworkers, but that doesn't mean you're over your career. No full-time job offers full-time excitement, but if the passion is gone, or you have few opportunities for advancement, it's time to seek work that may be more meaningful.

Pay close attention to your level of excitement for your career field. If you find yourself evading conversations about business, dodging professional seminars and avoiding opportunities to attend networking events, perhaps it's time for a career change.

4. You Want to Find a Better Fit

Perhaps you like your job and produce satisfactory work on a daily basis, but you know deep down inside it's not an exact fit. Spending all day at a job that doesn't utilize and challenge your skill set can leave something to be desired.

Since you've always been good at math, you figured a career in finance would be a good choice, but the truth is, you love reading self-help books, listening to people's problems and watching Dr. Phil on TV. In fact, you've often wondered why you didn't become a psychologist. If that's the case, maybe it's time to go back to school - which can be as easy as enrolling online.

5. Your Personal Circumstances Have Changed

People move, start families, go back to college, fall ill and change interests. When factors change in our immediate environment, we must change with them. After caring for a sick parent, a software engineer may decide to go back to school for nursing. A math teacher who finds success managing her personal finances may decide to change careers and work as a stockbroker. As our circumstances change, so do our career choices.

Though many people realize it's time to move on, they lack the skills, training or education necessary for a successful new career change. If that's the case for you, it's always possible to keep your day job while taking online classes.

Are You Ready for a Career Change?
If you are shaking your head "yes" to one or more of these signs, it's time for a career change. So now what? While you're finding the right degree program for your new career, breathe a sigh of relief -- change is on the way!

back to top