7 Telltale Signs It’s Time for a Career Shift

7 Telltale Signs It’s Time for a Career Shift

Leaving your job and deciding to shift to another one is one of the hardest decisions you’ll do in your career. You’ve already spent years of your life being part of the company. You’ve became friends with your co-workers. You share everyday routines with them such as taking coffee breaks, having lunch together, after-work dinner date, etc. Leaving such familiar environment and discovering a new one can be a bit frightening but at the same time exciting.

Finding a new career may mean saying goodbye to all the old habits and good people you’ve been with. But there are instances that shifting careers become mandatory. When you already feel that you’ve reach the dead end in your career at your present company, staying is even worse than leaving.

How do you know if it is the right time to hand in your resignation letter? Why should you leave your present job? Some reasons may be as clear as water and some may be definite signs to turn a new page in your professional life. Find out why you need to change careers and look for greater opportunities outside of your comfort zone.

1. Gaining a broader base of knowledge

After spending years working in your company, you can quickly adapt to the fast-paced work environment in your chosen field. Your mastery level has increased because  you became too familiar with your daily task. And now, you want to know what other things you’re capable of. When there’s nothing else to learn, it’s probably time to leave. Every working professional wants to try other opportunities where they can find career growth and gain a broader base of knowledge. This is one good reason to start looking for a new job!

2. Increasing your earning power

The difference in pay or opportunity is a valid reason to change jobs. It’s true that not all companies are created equal, some employees with the same position as you may get paid double than your salary. Being aware of this, you will then realize that you can use your skills in a new position with different companies that can offer significant growth opportunities.

3. Lack of challenges in your current job

Everyone of us should have a long-term career goals which is to stay challenged. If you think that you are being chronically bored at work or you are already into bad working habits like surfing the web to pass time, then it is the right time for you to change your career and find a new job that will satisfy your interests. Find a job that will truly challenge you and will put you outside of your comfort zone. But always make sure that this won’t challenge you too much that it will lead you to stress.

4. You can no longer stand your boss

If your boss is making your life miserable and you cannot stand him/her any longer, perhaps it is the time to look for a job elsewhere. But before you decide on looking for a new job, ask yourself first what truly aggravates you about your boss because it may only lead you from one bad situation to another. If you badly want to escape from the misery, better have an open communication with your boss. Clear out all the hurt or bad feelings that you have to him/her before you hand in your resignation letter. Regardless of how bad your working relationship with each other, do not forget to still honor him/her. He or she is still your superior after all.

5. Your company is a sinking ship

It’s probably a good time to find a new job when you notice something is happening in your company. It may be a large number of layoffs or consistently poor sales figures. But before jumping into conclusion, ask question among trusted people in the company. You and your allies may identify the major problem before the company admits it. If you see a worst-case scenario in the near future, then better have a plan.

6. Other companies have better offers

The reason why you need to challenge yourself in the field you are in is to learn more and be competitive. If you are skilled and experienced in your field, other companies will definitely notice you. Companies want to employ the best professionals in their field and if you are one of them, better offer might come your way. This means more earnings and better benefits. They are willing to offer whatever it takes to convince you to be part of their team. But before you accept any job offer from other companies, make sure that you fully understand the benefits and other incentives that they offer you. Do not just accept everything that they give you just because they have better offer. Think practically but don’t forget to weigh things out.

7. You’re ready for a new career.

You may be planning this for years. Because you are in a healthy job situation and you’ve already built a good relationship with your co-workers, you cannot go on with the idea of shifting careers. After a long period of thinking, you’ve finally realized that you are now ready to move your work life to a new direction. The key to making this decision a success is through proper communication. Surely if your co-workers see that you can go further than what you can reach in your current job, you will be more surprised of their support. Do not be afraid to take the leap into the next chapter of your working life.

Shifting careers is not easy. You have to think about it thoroughly. If you’re still unsure if you want to take a new direction in your professional life, reflect on these reasons because these might help you in making your decision.

Do you have other reasons why you should leave your present job? We want to hear your thoughts!

(Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox)