You know what they say. When one door shuts, another door opens.
But have you ever thought that if you can’t seem to get a door open—no matter how hard you try—maybe you are just in the wrong building with the wrong set of keys?
With 2019 having come to a close it’s time to pause, reflect and think about what we might want to change for the coming year. For some people, this can mean a complete career overhaul.
If the thought of a fresh start sounds pretty good to you, you aren’t alone. According to Indeed, about half of Australians are thinking about making a career change over the New Years period. That’s a pretty big number.
It’s normal for a job to have ups and downs. It might have just been a particularly hectic year and you are overdue for a break. However, other times its more than this.
It’s suggested that Aussies who are willing to update their qualifications and switch careers, average five to seven career changes over their lifetime.
If work has you feeling like you’ve lost your mojo, here are some signs that you might need to switch things up:
You’ve Lost Touch with Your Passion
Do you find that you are often thinking about or putting time into a passion project that could be turned into a job? Do you wish work was less about paying the bills and more about following your passion?
Aligning your career with your passion can feel high risk but it can also bring high rewards. Nonetheless, this advice needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Remember, passions change. You might have you started out in your line of work super passionate about what you were doing but now your interests have evolved, or the industry has changed.
If you are sitting there saying, “but I don’t have a passion.” Reframe this question and build yourself a mission instead. Maybe you just simply want to find work that feels meaningful or like it makes a contribution.
You’re Bored out of Your Brain
It’s one thing to feel a dose of the Sunday blues; however, if you find yourself dreading every single Monday its an indication that you are unhappy in your job. If you often find yourself constantly looking at the clock, it could be an indication that you are no longer learning in your role or being challenged. If you feel like you could do your work with your eyes shut it could be time for something new.
You Shudder at the Thought of Working in the Industry for the Next 5 Years
If you continue working in the same job or industry for the next five years where would you end up? Is your current career trajectory setting you on the path towards your dream job? If the thought of staying where you are fills you with anxiety maybe it’s time to think about an exit strategy.
There Are No Rungs Left to Climb on the Career Ladder
Along the same lines, if you’ve hit your glass ceiling it could be time for a career change. Perhaps when you were younger you dreamed of being in your current role but now you’re there the view isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Having something to work for and aspire to adds meaning and purpose to our work life.
Your Career No Longer Fits with Your Values
You might want to sit down for this one. Did you know that the average person spends more than 90,000 hours at work over their life? That number has us feeling pretty dizzy.
Work is a big part of life, but work is not life. Unfortunately, the line between the two can often blur. Yes, this might be because you are in a role that you are extremely passionate about and you find investing large amounts of your time fulfilling. However, if you are finding that your work life does not match up with your values, it could be time to switch things up. Maybe you don’t want to travel anymore for work because you are missing out on family time. Or perhaps you work in an industry that no longer aligns with your personal values.
Do any of these signs sound like you? It might be time to set some New Year’s resolutions. If you want to find out more about how to set goals for the year to come, check out this blog here.
If one of your 2020 goals is to transition to a new career path, check out our careers page here.
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