5 Signs It’s Time For A Career Change

Making the decision to change your career can be a difficult one. Especially if you’ve been in your profession for years and feel that it’s part of who you are. But there are some signs that it might be time to think a little more fully about your work situation, and perhaps make the leap into something new. Here are five indicators it’s time for a change:

1. You are unemployed. - For the past few months or years you have been looking for work in your field and getting nowhere. Perhaps you find that the unemployed are not being considered or maybe the job you used to have now has more requirements. You can either learn those new job skills or learn something completely new.

2. Technology is starting to make your job obsolete. - Entire companies have gone under because their business model became obsolete. Sometimes it’s not a matter of failing to respond to the competition; technology simply fundamentally shifts a niche and it never again is the same. Really look at what technology is encroaching on your career. Can it be learned? Or is it taking your job away entirely?

3. You no longer love what you do. - Maybe you never loved what you did. We sometimes fall into careers that are not fulfilling a childhood dream. Sometimes we are doing what we love but over time it loses its pleasure. All you know is that you hate the thought of Monday and going back to work and you can’t imagine years or decades ahead of feeling this way.

4. You are not where you thought you would be ten years ago. - If you thought you would be further along in your career by now, what stopped it? Circumstances? A bad personality or company fit? Maybe you have exhausted yourself for as far as you can go in this career.

5. You keep having this great idea. - You might have an idea of how you can do what you already do, but better. Or is there a new need out there that you think you can fill? Maybe your career change is to move into the role of a business owner. If this is your next step, be prepared. There are many free resources to learn how to start a business. Do lots of research. Think about what you want to do and learn about it. Are there any of your skills that will transfer? Talk to people in that field and see how they got started. Could this person be a mentor for you?

Sometimes what you need is a job change and sometimes you need to change your entire career. Decide and get back to (enjoyable) work!

This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included. ©2011 Catherine Lang-Cline, Portfolio Creative, LLC.

Catherine Lang-Cline is co-founder and owner of Portfolio Creative, a workforce innovation firm that was named a fastest growing company in by Inc. magazine in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Portfolio Creative helps connect client with creative talent in all areas of design, marketing, communications and advertising. www.portfolioiscreative.com.