5 Signs It’s Time to Change Careers

The idea of a job for life was always a myth of corporate America. Today, it’s not uncommon for one’s professional lifespan to feature six or seven careers. Indeed, US workers switch roles, on average, every 4.1 years, according to recent government data—nearly 50% more often than they swap their cars. 

To be sure, a lot of people these days complain that they’re burnt-out and need a new career. But experts say you should consider several questions before making a switch. Are you antsy professionally because you really want a new direction, or just because you don’t like your current work environment? Will you have to learn new skills before you can get a job in another field? Will a change mean more working hours, less pay, or both? “It’s important to be clear on what is driving you to make a change. Otherwise you might find yourself seeking another career switch in six months to a year,” says Michaela Buttler, a Korn Ferry senior consultant and executive career coach.

Experts say you might want to think about a career switch if you’re experiencing some—or all—of the following symptoms: 

Work, and coworkers, are completely uninteresting to you. 

Only about one-third of workers describe themselves as very engaged on the job, which means most people are annoyed or bored at work—at least some of the time. However, if you that find nothing about the job engages you, including interacting with your colleagues, that’s troubling. “You should be excited about your work. We spend enough time doing it,” says Stacey Perkins, a Korn Ferry Advance career coach.

But take a moment before declaring with certainty that the job doesn’t interest you at all. It’s easy, experts say, to overlook the enjoyable aspects of a role—such as learning new skills or brainstorming with coworkers—when one or two things about it aggravate you, such as too much paperwork or an unruly boss. Being able to suss out what you do and don’t like could be the difference between switching your boss, your job, or your career. 

You’re jealous.

To daydream occasionally about quitting your job and opening an inn in Vermont is one thing. To be constantly jealous of your friends’ and family members’ jobs is another. Experts say not to ignore that jealousy—it could be a sign that you need a new career. Use it to begin thinking about what you like about the roles you envy, and, more broadly, what you want out of a career. “Having a compelling vision for what you want, in addition to knowing what you don’t want, can go a long way in making a sound decision for yourself,” says Korn Ferry Advance coach Valerie Olson.

You don’t feel like you’re making an impact.

You feel like the job wastes your time and talents, and doesn’t make use of your greatest skills. Worse, you’re feeling complacent and not actively seeking out new opportunities to contribute. 

Somewhere along the way, you and your career grew apart. Experts say that having these feelings regularly means it’s time to find a new role—one that plays to your strengths, provides opportunities to develop new skills, and allows you to make meaningful contributions. 

Pay is becoming less important.

In a recent survey by benefits processor ADP, a majority of people worldwide cited salary as one of the most important aspects of a job. Historically, many people have put up with doing work they haven’t enjoyed because that work has come with a sizable paycheck.

However, money isn’t everything. Indeed, during the pandemic, many people discovered that the size of their paycheck mattered far less than things like meaningful work or a flexible schedule. If pay is losing importance on your own personal priority list, a career switch can become far less daunting. 

You hate taking your work “home.”

The expression “taking your work home with you” has a slightly different meaning these days, with millions more people working from home (at least some of the time) than did before COVID. Plus, many demanding roles are tough to mentally “leave.” They require you to work, or at least think about them, at seemingly random times of the day.

A career can become all-consuming and distance you from your friends and family. If you find yourself in that situation, it could be a sign that you need to consider a switch. 

For more expert career advice, connect with a career coach at Korn Ferry Advance.

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