Everybody has a moment in their career when they question what they are doing. It can come from working on a task that does not strike a chord in you at all or even comes from something as huge as hating your job. Sometimes, however, it is no incredibly apparent when you are in a career that is a mismatch for your skills.
To that end, below are a few common tips and things you can do to rectify the situation if you find yourself in it. Staying in a career that doesn’t align with your goals or interests is a quick way to become disheartened with your work and less happy overall. If you notice any of the following signs, consider a career switch.
Lack of Growth Potential
When you work in any career, you want to know that you will have opportunities to grow in your position and climb the ladder within a company. Look at the job you currently hold and try to decide if there is any growth potential for you in it. A great way to do this is to think five to ten years down the road. Will you be in the same cubicle doing the same exact work?
A lack of growth potential is one of the largest indicators that you may want to switch careers. Even if the work is bearable, you do not want to be stuck somewhere you cannot advance. There are certain fields in tech worth considering that leave high growth potential. To get into those careers, tech-skills are required. The biggest of those required skills is coding.
There are a number of ways to learn to code, but one of the best is to attend a coding bootcamp where you will be taught real job applications for the skill and day-to-day tasks coders may face. Regardless of what career you wish to pursue, having growth potential is extremely important to the longevity of that career. Don’t settle for a job that has no room to advance.
There’s No Passion
Being passionate about your work is a goal many strive for but never achieve. Obviously you cannot be interested in every little task you are assigned at work, but you should have some interest in what you do. Whether it is large or small, a lack of passion is an indicator that you may be in the wrong career.
It can be difficult to identify a career path that may provide you with that passion, and you should take on in-depth research to really identify what it is you want to do. Consider taking a free career quiz to learn more about new careers and see if you can find a fit for your skills.
You’ll know you find a career or job opportunity that strikes passion within you when it doesn’t even seem like work. It will be the opening you look at and are so interested in that you don’t even look at what the salary is. On that note, another huge indicator it is time for a career switch is…
You’re in It for the Wrong Reasons
As referenced a moment ago, it’s important to sit down and think about what it is you’re doing and why you are doing it. When you go to work, what is your motivation? Are you going because you genuinely care about completing your tasks or because you are desperate for a paycheck? There is nothing wrong with wanting to earn money for your job, that’s only natural.
With that said, if money is the only reason you are going to work in the morning then it may be time to look at another career path. If a high salary is really what matters to you, then consider looking at becoming a front end developer. In this profession, you would be tasked with building websites and software for a variety of companies. The pay for entry-level workers is reasonably high and offers great upward mobility.
There are certain trade schools that offer courses in this field, such as Springboard, which allows anyone of any age to attend online classes for under a year and get a degree in the field. However, keep in mind that a high salary will not necessarily lead to a satisfying life. If you believe yourself to be in it for the wrong reasons, try to find a career path that interests you, and provides monetary benefits at the same time.
Conclusion
Not everyone is going to be able to find the optimal career for them. That doesn’t mean you have to stop searching. If you manage to find that career which lights a fire in your heart, you should stop at nothing to pursue it. Leaving a stable career for something new can be scary, but the potential benefits far outweigh the potential negatives.
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