6 Signs You’re in the Wrong Career and What You Can Do to Pivot
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels
At some point in your career, you may get to a place where you feel “stuck.” You spent years getting your college degree(s), gaining work experience, and networking to land your dream job, but now that you’ve got it, you’re not as satisfied with your career as you thought.
It’s not uncommon for professionals to find themselves in a job they no longer have a passion for.
Here are the seven signs that you may be in the wrong career and tips for successfully transitioning.
1) You’ve disengaged
You no longer have any interest in your day-to-day job responsibilities, and it’s been that way for months. You now dread opening your inbox in the mornings or having the weekly team meetings. In addition, you may need more motivation to put in the extra effort to perform well at work.
When this occurs, take time to reflect on your job. Why have you lost interest in your job, and what you can you do to fix this. Getting a better understanding of what you want in a career can help you adjust your current role, or help you land a better position at another company.
2) You constantly daydream about your dream job
Most professionals daydream about careers outside of their own, but at what cost? If you spend your entire shift fantasizing about working at another company, it’s a sign you’ve lost interest in your current role. Unless you can negotiate with your management to get better accommodations, it may be time to find another job.
3) You’re not feeling inspired, challenged, or creative
When you’re satisfied with your career, you’re constantly feeling inspired by your co-workers, challenging yourself with new tasks or projects, or coming up with new ideas.
If you’re not feeling creatively challenged at your job, consider exploring your hobbies or interests outside of work, and see if there are any roles that can fulfill your passions.
4) You’re experiencing job burnout
Anxiety, stress, and depression can quickly arise in many careers. Whether it’s working long hours, dealing with micromanagers, or just an overall demanding job, you can begin to experience physical symptoms that can affect your mental and physical health.
When a job begins to take a toll on your health, start looking for other roles where you can make health a priority over work.
5) You’re underperforming at work
If you’re not satisfied with your job, you may experience a decline in your work performance. Underperforming at work can lead to negative reviews and feedback from your management team based on your inability to meet the job’s expectations.
You can take the criticisms and suggestions to improve your job performance in your current role. Even if you decide to leave your current role, try to improve your work performance so that they can be a strong reference when you apply for other positions.
6) You’re looking at other jobs
When you spend more time at work looking for other jobs rather than completing your responsibilities, it’s time to reassess.
If you’re not ready to put in your two weeks' notice yet, schedule a one-on-one meeting with your management team to see if you can rearrange your job responsibilities or get a raise. If management isn’t budging on your suggestions, it’s time to find another job.
With a better understanding of the signs that you’re in the wrong career, here are some tips on pivoting to a new career.
Start with the why
What's making you want to switch careers? Take some time to reflect on what has driven you to consider transitioning into another role. When you better understand your “why,” you’re more likely to make the proper steps toward a more satisfying career.
Know what you need to bring to the table
If you already know what career you want to transition into, do you have the skills and experience? Or will you need to go back to school or complete training before applying to jobs? Switching careers can require investing time and money to get the skills and experience necessary to acquire your desired career.
Understand that there aren’t any shortcuts
There isn’t always a fast-track path to a new career. Accept that it may take time to successfully transition to a new career. This is especially true for professionals switching into careers entirely opposite from their current roles. Be patient and remind yourself that your efforts will pay off in the end.