Are you feeling stuck in your current job? Do you find yourself daydreaming about a different career path?

You’re not alone – 40% of the UK workforce plans to move jobs in 2024, with one in six already beginning their search.

Many people spend years in careers that no longer fulfil them, but recognizing when it’s time for a change can be the first step!

Here are four signs that indicate it might be time for a career change and some practical tips on how to figure out what it is that you want to change and do:

Lack of passion

One of the most obvious signs that it’s time for a career change is a lack of passion for your current job. If you find yourself dragging your feet to work every morning and counting down the minutes until you can leave, it may be a sign that you’re no longer passionate about what you’re doing. When you’re passionate about your work, you feel energized and motivated, and that passion drives you to excel. If you’ve lost that passion, it’s worth exploring other career options that ignite your enthusiasm.

Practical tips: 

Passion journaling

Set aside some time each day to journal about your feelings towards your current job. Write about what aspects of your work excite you and bring you joy, as well as what aspects leave you feeling drained or unfulfilled. Reflect on moments in your career when you felt most passionate and engaged, and identify any patterns or common themes.

Ikigai

Explore the Japanese concept of “ikigai,” which refers to the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Create a diagram or list to visualize how your current job aligns (or doesn’t align) with these four elements. Use this as a guide to identify areas for potential career change.

Feeling stagnant

Have you hit a career plateau? Are you no longer learning and growing in your current role? Feeling stagnant in your career can be a sign that it’s time for a change. For a lot of people, a fulfilling career challenges them and provides opportunities for growth and development. If you feel like you’ve reached the limits of your current job and there’s nowhere else to go, it may be time to explore new career paths that offer greater potential for advancement and personal development.

Practical tips: 

Career timeline mapping

Create a timeline of your career journey, including significant milestones, achievements, and learning experiences. Identify periods of growth and development, as well as times when you felt stuck or stagnant. Reflect on what factors contributed to these feelings of stagnation and whether there are patterns or common themes.

Skill gap analysis

Assess your current skills and competencies relative to your career goals. Identify areas where you feel stagnant or lacking in growth opportunities. Consider whether there are new skills or knowledge areas you’d like to develop to progress in your career and reflect on how acquiring these skills could reignite your passion and motivation.

Career SWOT analysis

Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of your current career situation. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as potential opportunities for growth and advancement. Consider external factors or threats that may be limiting your career progression.

Persistent stress and burnout

It’s normal to experience stress at work from time to time, but if you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and burnt out, it’s a clear sign that something needs to change. Chronic stress and burnout can have serious consequences for your physical and mental health, so it’s important to take these warning signs seriously. If your job is consistently causing you stress and anxiety, it may be time to consider a career change to a less demanding or more fulfilling role (or often, a better manager!).

Practical tips:

Stress inventory

Take stock of the specific factors contributing to your stress and burnout at work. Identify sources of pressure, such as excessive workload, lack of support, or conflicts with colleagues. Reflect on how these stressors impact your overall well-being and job satisfaction.

Self-care assessment

Evaluate your current self-care practices and habits. Consider how well you’re taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health amidst the demands of your job. Reflect on whether you’re prioritizing activities that recharge and rejuvenate you, or if you’re neglecting your well-being in favour of work obligations.

Job crafting

Explore the concept of job crafting, which involves proactively redesigning aspects of your job to better align with your strengths, values, and interests. Identify opportunities to modify your tasks, relationships, and perceptions of your role to reduce stress and increase satisfaction. Consider how you can create a more fulfilling and manageable work experience within your current job.

Alignment with values and priorities

As you grow and evolve as a person, your values and priorities may also change. If you find that your current job is no longer aligned with your values and priorities, it can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and discontent. For example, if you value work-life balance but your job requires long hours and constant availability, it may be time to look for a career that better aligns with your current priorities.

Practical tips:

Values clarification

Take some time to clarify your core values and how they align with your current job. Consider what matters most to you in your professional life, such as creativity, autonomy, helping others, or making a difference in the world. Evaluate whether your current job allows you to live out these values or if there’s a mismatch.

Life audit

Conduct a comprehensive review of your life to assess whether your current job is supporting your overall well-being and life goals. Evaluate how your career fits into the broader context of your personal aspirations, relationships, and lifestyle choices. Reflect on whether your current job is enhancing or hindering your ability to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

And if you’ve decided it’s time for a change – read our articles about identifying your unique career path, how to deal with the challenges of career change and if you’d like to talk about it,  you can always talk to us here.

We hope that by being open to change and exploring new possibilities, you can discover a career path that brings you joy, fulfilment, and a sense of purpose.