4 Signs It May Be Time for a Career Change

How do you know when it’s time for a career change? This is the most frequent question I get from clients and colleagues. I’d love to say that there is a concrete and definitive answer, but it’s just not that simple.

The decision to make a career change is not one that should be taken lightly. I am not a person who will encourage someone to take a leap without carefully considering the risks and making a plan. 

In 2016, I left a career as an engineering leader and transitioned into a career as an HR professional, consultant, coach and entrepreneur. It was, objectively, a drastic career change. It was also a decision that took me 3 years to make. I kept wishing for a sign to tell me what to do.

When I think back on my own career change, there were four signs that it was time for a career change that were undeniable – and each of these holds up for the career transition coaching clients I’ve worked with.

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1 | Lack of alignment with your values and strengths.

Whether or not you have the right words to express your values and strengths, you feel it when they are not aligned with your career or organization. What can be especially confusing is that there may have been a time when your career or organization was in alignment with who you are and what you value. We all grow and evolve over the course of our lives, and so do organizations and entire fields of work. It can be entirely true that at one time there was alignment but there isn’t anymore.

Try not to judge yourself, your career, or your organization as “good” or “bad.” That’s actually not helpful when considering a career change. Instead, focus on noticing whether you are simply growing apart from the path you are currently on.

Take action: Reflect on your values. What is most important to you? Think about a time when you had to make a difficult decision, what guided your decision-making? What might that tell you about your values?

Storytime: One simple example from my career change, is that after working for a large food manufacturing company for over a decade, I realized that my food values had changed to the extent that I no longer even ate the products they created. 

Contact me about completing the CliftonStrengths assessment!

2 | You have more to give, but no space to give it.

Do you find yourself holding back at work? Maybe you have ideas or talents that you want to bring to your work, but it feels like either your organization or your field of work isn’t ready for what you have to offer. 

We all get to decide how much (or how little) we want to put into our careers. But, if you want to give more and feel like you aren’t able to, that’s a sign that it may be time to move on.

Take action: What are you doing when you feel most energized (in work or life)? What is it you have to offer that you’re holding back on? What impact is holding back having on you – your confidence, wellbeing, engagement?

3 | You have new information about other careers, industries or organizations.

When I was younger, I was told that you pick a career and that’s what you do for the rest of your life. Today, we all know that simply isn’t how it works for most of us.

In high school, I excelled at math and science and so a career in engineering “just made sense” for me. And it did make sense… until it didn’t. I didn’t know at that time how much I would love solving people-related problems and that there is an entire field of work focused on just that – organization development and coaching. 

Take action: What brought you to your current career? What is a career, industry or organization you didn’t know about when you chose your current career but think could be a good fit for you?

4 | You are not able to live the life you imagine for yourself.

We may fantasize from time-to-time about winning the lottery and living a completely different life. That’s not what I’m talking about here. When I say the “life you imagine for yourself”, I mean a scenario where you are able to devote your time and talents to the things that are most deeply important to you. 

Sometimes, what’s most important is paying our bills and putting food on the table for our family. And other times, it may be a priority to have a career that is flexible enough for you to spend time doing something you care deeply about like travel, caregiving, volunteering, and learning.

The life you imagine for yourself may change over time. It doesn’t have to be static. But, when you notice your career will not allow you to live that life, that’s a sign that a change may be needed.

Take action: Close your eyes for a minute. Picture a life where you are able to devote your time and talents to things that matter most to you. What does that look like? What is missing currently? 

Is it Time for a Career Change?

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As you think about these four signs, how many of them are true for you? What do you want to do about it? 

It was 3 years from when I first noticed these signs to when I submitted my resignation and moved towards a new career. A career change doesn’t happen overnight. So, I encourage you to think about one small step you will take towards your “something better.”

Learn more about Unearth’s leadership and career transition coaching services here.

Susan Gleissner

Susan Gleissner believes that life is better with adventure, including our careers. Her journey from being an engineering leader to an HR professional, combined with her passion for helping others reach their potential positions her to offer practical, individualized career transition and leadership coaching to those looking to take their career to the next level. Susan is a credentialed coach through the International Coaching Federation and Gallup. In her spare time she shares adventure travel inspiration on her travel blog, This Big Wild World.

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