How do I decide on a career change?

Finding a job that you like doing may be a drawn-out process that requires baby steps. Very few individuals go into the employment with a clear idea of what it is that they want to accomplish. In point of fact, by the time a person reaches the age of 50, they have typically held a total of 12 different professions in their pursuit of the "perfect match." For many people, this means embarking on a whole new professional path. Just in the year 2016, over 6.2 million people in the workforce made the decision to switch careers totally, moving on from the jobs they were holding at the time.

If this is s  omething you've been thinking about, you should know that you're not the only one. Putting these ideas into action, on the other hand, might be quite intimidating. It may entail quitting a secure employment in order to embark on an unknown course of action for some people. For some people, moving job functions in the middle of their careers may imply making a lateral shift, which may seem like taking a step backward; however, this is not always the case.

At every step of your career, you will have the chance to learn more about yourself, including your skills and interests, the obstacles you face, and the standards you uphold in the workplace. On the path to a happy profession, the decisions you make along the way that you may first see as "missteps" may in fact turn out to be the most illuminating and life-changing.

In addition to this, the concept of a suitable career is a two-way street. Because satisfied workers are more productive workers, most businesses would prefer it if you were excited, engaged, and fulfilled in your employment. Recognizing the point in time when it is appropriate to leave your present employment in order to pursue new hobbies may be beneficial for everyone involved.

If you are reading this, there is a good possibility that you are having second thoughts about the choice of job path you have now made. Make the most of this occasion to reflect on how you feel about the part you are now playing. Continue reading if any of the following descriptions ring true for you; you'll find out how to break out of your rut and into the kind of work that you've always dreamed of doing if you do.

Warning Signs That It's Time to Switch Careers

1. You have apathy and complacency with life.

You begin to have a growing sense of disconnection from the initial motivations for your decision to pursue this area as each day goes by. You have mentally checked out; your work is suffering, your deadlines are being missed, and you just lack the motivation to continue feigning excitement for the company's goal statement. But I've never seen you act like this before. Just what is going on here? Even if you work at a career that you are really enthusiastic about, there may be occasions when you will feel like you are just doing a job. But if you can't recall the last time a new idea or your next project made you feel inspired or stimulated, it may be time to reconsider the position you play in the organization.

2. You do not get the impression that your actions are having an effect.

Your responsibilities at work are consistent from one day to the next. Every day looks and feels the same, and you are essentially operating on autopilot as a result. You get the impression that your time and abilities are not being put to good use, and that your finest capabilities are not being put to good use either. As time has passed, you have become disheartened, and as a result, you have ceased actively searching out fresh possibilities to contribute. It is time to look for a new job that better utilizes your abilities, gives you the chance to learn new things, and gives you the chance to make contributions that have real worth. Your chosen profession ought not to lower but rather raise your sense of self-worth.

3. You hate coming to your place of employment.

Everybody has those mornings when they press the snooze button more than they should have, or when it takes a little bit of an additional push to wake up and get ready for work. It's possible that the project you're working on doesn't really excite you, or that you're feeling nervous about a meeting with your supervisor. But this is different since it occurs on a daily basis. You do all you can to put off thinking about Monday, but by the time Sunday evening rolls around, you're already dreading going back to work. If you're feeling this discontent with your present employment, it's time to start considering other aspects of the workforce that could be a better fit with the things you're most passionate about doing.

4. Your income can't make up for the fact that you're unhappy in this job.

It's possible that the income is excellent, yet the labor is both mindless and horrible. You used to be able to rationalize continuing to work there because of the income, but at this point, even that isn't sufficient. During meetings, you often find yourself staring at the second hand of the clock as it ticks past. You've made it to Tuesday after a three-day weekend, and you've already started crossing off the days on your calendar until your next getaway. Even while you're grateful for the security that your employment offers, you've noticed that you're starting to feel as if you're squandering your potential. These are obvious indications that someone needs to make a transition in their life.

5. Your work is having an impact on other aspects of your life.

The work that you do should be difficult, but it should not be exhausting. It is possible that your body is trying to warn you that your current line of work is not a good fit for you if you are always weary, if you are unable to sleep, if you are getting headaches, or if you are experiencing any other physical symptoms. Being under constant stress may also have an adverse effect on your relationships with the people who are closest to you. Have any of your close friends or family members mentioned how easily you become angry or how often you complain? If you find that your job is making you a miserable or resentful person, you should start looking at things that will help you feel more like your true self again.

6. You find yourself daydreaming about starting a new job.

You take advantage of your lunch breaks by daydreaming about what you would do in "your future life" and savoring the idea of how you would hand in your notice of resignation after two weeks. You notice that you are reading job sites instead of responding to work emails, and you are beginning to feel envious of your friends' occupations as you wonder how they were able to secure such "great" positions. People making inquiries about what it is that you do give you discomfort because you secretly wish it were anything else. You've given leaving a lot of consideration, and you may have even mentioned the possibility to some pals in casual conversation. Would you quit your work "if you could?" If that's the case, we should get going.

How to Make a Switch in Professions

If you find that you can connect a bit too well to the sentiments made above, how do you go about changing careers? Because happiness is such an important factor in work performance as well as career progress, you should get started on formulating a strategy to locate a position that allows you to pursue your interests. Follow these steps to get yourself off of autopilot and create the change you want to see in your life.

1. Be precise about what aspects of the plan are not functioning.

First things first, spend some time to figure out what precisely it is that's making your work such a stressful experience for you. Is the source of your discontent something that happens outside of your control, such as your coworkers, your supervisor, the culture of the company, or even the commute? If this is the case, would it make a difference if you joined a different team or if you left the company? Or do you feel the same level of dread just thinking about the job that you'll have to accomplish, regardless of where you work or where you work from? If you feel that your dissatisfaction with the work is due to the functional tasks that are intrinsic to the role, you might consider making a more significant shift.

2. Make a list of the aspects of your present job that you like.

Think back to the beginning of your time working in the capacity that you are now in. What drove you to take that action? Was it the obligations that arose on a daily basis? The possibility of professional advancement? After that, think about the aspects of your career that you still find pleasurable and try to figure out why you find those aspects interesting. Is it the element of originality that your job requires? Consideration of Strategy? Putting figures together? Do you thrive on the unpredictable, or do you long for the security of routine? When you are searching for your next employment, keep these recurring patterns in mind. You will have a better understanding of the aspects of your future professional move to seek out or avoid if you conduct an evaluation of your present likes and dislikes.

3. Consider your essential principles.

Finding a person who is a good cultural match is vital for any job. Consider your core beliefs and learn to identify the characteristics of an organization's culture that mesh well with your own personality. Do you place a high emphasis on independence, community, and innovation? Would you feel comfortable working in an environment that supported keeping things the same as they have always been? Or maybe it is significant to you that your efforts are going toward the advancement of a charitable cause.

When doing this kind of self-inventory, it is essential to be truthful with yourself at all times, regardless of the values that you hold. Think about the occupations held by those people whose careers you like. Do you truly care about their function, or do you really want want the independence and the culture that empowers you more than anything else? Discover what it is that brings out the most vitality in you, even if it goes against what you (or others) believe you "should" be doing. It's possible that your priorities have shifted since you first began working, and if they have, that's just OK. Just make sure that your priorities for today are very clear.

4. Determine your areas of expertise and where you need improvement.

What would you be doing if you weren't constrained by things like money, time, location, or any number of other factors? The moment has come to find out how to put that plan into action. Examine the ways in which your present position and your ideal role intersect while acknowledging that a full 180-degree turn won't happen tomorrow. Especially if your present job and ideal career couldn't be more different from one another, you should give some thought to the talents that are transferrable, the experience that is relevant, and the network connections that may assist you make the most convincing transition possible.

It is also a good idea to make a list of the gaps in your experience and abilities that may prevent you from succeeding. You may need to be inventive in order to make ends meet, such as beginning a part-time job or internship, or perhaps going back to school. It may take some time to carve out a job that is both fulfilling and pays the bills, so be patient as you do so and build a strategy.

5. Do some research on the common employment for those changing careers.

There are certain industries that have lower entrance requirements and are more willing to hire people who are switching careers than others. The best employment for you will rely on your specific history as well as the things that interest you. Those that decide to make a shift in their line of work often find success in high-paying industries such as computer science and data science, amongst others.

Because of their high demand, excellent wages, and the wide variety of entry points available, professions in computer science and data science are well suited for those who are interested in switching fields. For instance, a person interested in acquiring computer science abilities has the option of enrolling in a coding bootcamp, taking online classes, enrolling in an undergraduate program, or pursuing a master's degree. All of these options are available.

6. Create a strategy and put it into action.

After doing an exhaustive analysis of yourself, the next step is to sketch out your objectives, noting key interim achievements along the way, and setting appropriate deadlines for yourself. Enhance and perfect your personal brand to give yourself an advantage in your job hunt. And while you're doing it, make it a priority to consistently hone your talents and grow your network by making new connections and reconnecting with existing ones.

Above all else, try not to let the hunt for your new employment discourage you or make you feel frightened. Make sure that your present responsibilities are in line with the accomplishment of your long-term objectives by doing frequent self-evaluations and checking in with yourself. Recognize when it's time to move on and when it's time to walk away. It is never too late to start again in order to accomplish what you love each and every day, and starting over is never a waste of time.