It's never too late to make a career change.
Almost half of U.S. workers in several industries admit they intend to look for a new job this year, according to a new survey from LinkedIn. If you are one of those people, it's important to consider why you want to jump ship. While you might think you need to find a position that’s a better fit or offers a higher salary, you may, in fact, benefit from a career change.
It’s never too late to change careers. Career changes have become more common as individuals reevaluate their priorities and embrace remote work. Gartner research recently revealed that employees want more than just a paycheck. They seek a shared purpose and personal growth at work. People also want to feel like they can bring their whole selves to work rather than hiding what makes them unique.
It’s very common to fall into a career right out of college accidentally. Then, one job leads to another, and before you know it, you've spent 20 years in a field that is as exciting as watching paint dry. If you feel less than energized by your work, ask yourself these questions to determine whether you need a job or career change.
Do I still enjoy the work?
When you think about changing jobs, consider your "why." Is it your boss that you can't stand? Or maybe the company culture isn't aligned with your values. If so, you might consider searching for similar positions internally or externally. Then putting your manager, team, and company culture aside, do you still enjoy the work? If you feel like you’re just going through the motions, it might indicate you’re on the wrong path. Ultimately, if doing the same job at another company fills you with dread, a career change may be in order.
Is the only reason I’m staying the money?
Obviously, compensation plays a vital role in our lives. But if that's the sole reason for staying in your job, you'll likely experience dissatisfaction and burnout at some point (if you haven't already). Another way to look at it is to calculate your hourly wage. Yes, you might have a handsome salary. But are you spending so much time at work that you rarely see your family and have little time to take a vacation? If that's the case, a career change might allow you to have a higher quality of life and still pay the bills.
Can I be my authentic self?
Although authenticity at work has many benefits, employees often hesitate to open up. In a study by JobSage, 3 in 5 respondents admitted to hiding at least one thing about themselves from their employer. In addition, 64% said they experienced backlash after revealing something about themselves—often being poorly treated or ignored. When you think about your professional life, can you be yourself, or are you just playing a part? It can be exhausting to feel like you have to put your "game face" on every day to be professionally successful. Instead, you deserve to embrace your unique personality and bring your whole self to work.
Do I constantly dream about a new career?
Have you been dreaming about a new career for years but haven’t done anything about it? Or do you want to be your own boss but don’t know where to start? It’s okay not to see the whole road ahead of you. Sometimes, it's just enough to take the first step. Transformation is difficult—especially career change. So, instead of expecting to have a long-term plan laid out, start taking action. If you know what you want to do, begin talking to people in that field. Hire a career coach. Shadow someone you admire. When you don’t act, you feel stuck and trapped in analysis paralysis. Moving forward, even slowly, you build confidence and get closer to your dream.
Everybody has rough patches throughout their professional lives. It doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change careers. But if you wake up every day feeling like you have untapped potential, you deserve to explore other options. The average person spends around 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. Make it count.
