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For most people, finding the right career path can be a daunting task. It’s a process that takes weeks, even months, of careful deliberation.
However, even this cannot guarantee that you made the right decision. Maybe you’re a doctor with a secret fondness for cooking or a sales manager with a growing desire to study data science.
You could be employed for a year then suddenly find yourself wondering whether what you’re doing is what you actually want. If this has ever happened to you, maybe it’s time for you to consider switching careers.
Here are a couple of indicators that tell you a change may be in order.
1.You’re Feeling Overly Negative about Work
One of the most glaring signs that you’re in the wrong job is when you no longer find joy in your day-to-day tasks.
Being lethargic, irritable and having negative feelings about your work isn’t healthy. Maybe your current job pays well or provides you with certain benefits.
Either way, if you find yourself dragging your feet to work every single day, then what’s the point?
Remember that work is a commitment that demands your attention for eight hours a day and five days a week. So, you should at least be able to enjoy your time doing something that you like.
Besides, any negativity about your career is not just exclusive to that part of your life; it seeps into other aspects as well.
Your frustration could bring out the worst in you and affect how you interact with the people around you. It takes a toll not just on your mental health but also on your social relations.
2.You’ve Lost Your Passion
That fire that wakes you up every morning is more important than you think. It’s what fuels you to go to work and perform well.
If you no longer feel that passion you used to feel, reaching your career goals may be difficult to do.
The loss of passion could be due to bad experiences with your superiors, putting too much effort into a project yet failing to meet your expected results or not getting the acknowledgement you deserve, or simply overworking.
Knowing these could help you address the issue and get that fire back burning. However, if things remain dreary, then it may be time to look for other career opportunities.
3.You Don’t Feel Motivated
Motivation is something that everyone needs. Everyone has to feel that desire or push to become better in Software Engineering, teaching, nursing or whatever your career is.
This is vital to having a successful and enjoyable career. Motivation can come from career advancement, salary increase, or hitting a goal in your company.
It goes hand in hand with passion. It drives you to keep on going every day; it gives you purpose. Feeling unfulfilled in your job may lead you to lose this.
If you’re unable to find a reason to move forward with your career, you should consider looking elsewhere.
4.You Chose Your Career for the Wrong Reasons
This is something that often happens to everyone. Sometimes, we make decisions based on our needs instead of what we’re passionate about.
Of course, it’s important to consider your needs. Having a good salary improves your standard of living. But what if you could have both of what you want and need? It’s possible.
It’s simply a matter of reviewing your prospects carefully and re-evaluating which one is best for you.
So, if you feel you chose your current job for the wrong reasons, maybe it’s time to reassess things and ask yourself what you actually want to be doing.
If you don’t like something, change it.
Having negative feelings about your career and not feeling passionate or motivated about it are only some of the signs that tell you you’re not on the right track.
The best thing you could do is to reconsider your options and dive into a new path.
Here are some ways you can do that:
Explore new hobbies and passions
If you don’t know what career to switch to, dabbling in hobbies you enjoy may lead to a career in them. Funn turned her hobby of soap-making into a workshop where she educates Malaysians on how to make soap at home.
Read about people who had successfully changed careers
You will get to see what other people have done with their lives and can even draw inspiration from their examples. Naqiuddin is a trainee doctor who traded his stethoscope for a spatula, and that’s how he started his bakery business called Triad of Batter.
Learn a new skill and get certified in it to build your confidence
Sometimes, the hardest part of switching careers is convincing ourselves that we are worth the time and investment in ourselves to make the switch. That’s where short courses come in.
More often than not, the certification is just a form of proof that you have what it takes — so go out there and try something new! The only thing you won’t get back in life is time.
For more stories like this read: 4 Career Lies We Need to Stop Believing Right Now and How I Quit My Five-Figure Salary Job To Become A Travel Writer.
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