If you are considering a career change, you are not alone. The average person changes careers 5–7 times in their working lifetime.
But taking the plunge into a new career path is never easy. You must consider the costs (e.g., going back to school or getting job certifications) against the potential benefits (e.g., higher pay or better work-life balance).
So, how do you know for sure that it’s time to leave your job for greener pastures? We explain the top 4 signs that it’s time to find a new career below.
Table of Contents
1. You Hit a Salary Cap
A salary cap is the maximum wage someone can earn in a particular job or field. If you’ve hit the salary cap in your industry, this is a surefire sign that it’s time to change your career.
Without making the switch, you can only expect your wages to grow on track with inflation. Switching to another company or another industry entirely offers the opportunity to grow your wages.
2. Your Industry Is on the Decline
Workers in the following dying industries should definitely consider switching career paths:
- Coal and iron ore mining
- Newspaper and magazine publishing
- Computer hardware manufacturing
- Life and health insurance
These are among the fastest-declining industries in the world. In ten-plus years, jobs in these industries may disappear entirely. If you work in one of these sectors, there will never be a better time to make the switch than now.
3. Your Personal Life Is Suffering
Do you spend late nights in the office getting work done? Are you constantly missing out on important social events? If so, you may have a job with a poor work-life balance.
Jobs in the legal, medical, and sales fields have notoriously poor work-life balances. If you want to improve your social life and relationships, switch to a job with a better work-life balance, like data science, web design, or teaching.
4. You’re Bored
Boredom often means you are under-challenged. If boredom affects you the most while you’re at work, it may be a sign that your job is not challenging your skills enough.
In this case, the best option may be to go back to school. You can learn the skills you need to advance your career or switch to a new one.
And going back to school in 2023 doesn’t have to be expensive and time-consuming. Online schools like calcoast.edu offer flexible programs for people like you. You can attend school in whatever format suits your needs best.
Are You Getting Ready for a Career Change?
Wage caps, declining industries, poor work-life balance, and boredom are all obvious signs that it’s time for a new career. Switching jobs or even industries may be just what you need to reignite your passion for work.
Are you gearing up to make a major career change? If so, we have the resources to help you every step of the way. Keep scrolling for more articles like this one.