Making a career change is a normal part of professional life. Sometimes it’s necessary to make a strategic career move to follow your dreams, your ambitions, and find a workplace where you can thrive. You can teach yourself new skills, make a lateral move, or even change careers entirely.

Onward and Upward

A singular job rarely takes you everywhere in your career that you want or need to go. Each employer is limited by their business model, their internal structure, and their company culture. Eventually, you will have reached the end of what one employer can offer and it’ll be time to make a change. Whether that change is taking your skills to the next level or even taking your role in a new direction, you may be thinking it’s time for a serious career change. If that’s the case, then go for it!

Daydreaming about a career change is your brain telling you that you’ve hit a brick wall. Maybe the opportunities aren’t promising in your current role. Maybe the office culture is toxic and you’re just not happy. Perhaps you could be earning more for your kids if you’re brave enough to make a lateral move instead of sticking with your current role. Is now the right time for your career change? Are you ready to turn that corner? Let’s dive right into finding those answers to rock your career the right way.

When Is the Right Time To Change Careers?

When should you listen to that voice inside your head that tells you to change your career? We all dream a little about making changes, but there are definitely some clear signs that your current role just isn’t right for you anymore, and maybe never was.  Here’s how to find out if it’s the right time to make the change.

Feeling the Burn-Out

Feeling the burn in a workout is good. Indeed, feeling the burn-out at work is a sign that your role doesn’t fit. Burnout is when the stress and demands of your role are leaving you feeling frazzled, empty, or brittle. If you go home and sit on the couch like a potato because your brain is too tired to think, that is burnout. If you can’t keep up with your workload because it just never stops and you don’t enjoy the work, that’s burnout.

Jobs are meant to be challenging, but you should also be able to enjoy the work you do. If your current role has sucked the joy out of it and left you feeling like a husk… it’s time to make a change.

No Upward Trajectory Means a Career Change Is Needed

Many employers just don’t have the higher-level roles that you’re ready to graduate into. Consider a little shop where rising higher than “Store Manager” just isn’t an option. If you’re ready to jump from local to regional, you may need to find another employer. This applies to every industry across the board. If there’s no room for you to move up—or you’ve been denied the opportunity to progress with your current employer—find that upward mobility elsewhere with a career change! Find a role that matches your new capabilities with plenty of upward room to grow.

Career Goals Don’t Align With Career Path

Does your current employer offer growth in the direction you care about? There may be promotions available as an analyst but what you really want is to design. There may be options in management, but you’d rather train as a specialist. When this happens, follow your dreams instead of the hiring structure. Break loose and find a new role with a path that matches the career goals you see for yourself.

Toxic Work Culture

Toxic work cultures are insidious and sticky. They can be hard to leave and often those trapped inside form a cycle of coping and justification. But truly reflect on how you feel and how people treat you at work. If you’re facing constant negativity, unreasonable stress, or toxic social interactions, then your career can’t thrive because your motivation can’t thrive. Find a new role with a nurturing company culture that jives with your personal style.

Learn More About a Career Change

Read more: How to Plan for a Successful Career Change – Part 2

If you’re considering a career change, contact us to learn more about the many options available.