Feeling Burnt Out? 4 Signs That It Is Time to Change Careers

Do you dread Mondays in a way that affects the quality of rest that you get from your days off? Does it take so much energy for you to do the most basic of tasks? Do you feel like you will be a better fit somewhere else? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, perhaps it is time to reflect on whether these are signs you need a new career.

For many, it is important to find a career that brings meaning to their lives, makes them feel good about themselves, and helps them make a difference in their community. If you are one of those people, you may feel that your job should ideally be fulfilling and give you room for growth and improvement. But even if you work in your dream job, not every day will be perfect; there will be days with frustrations, challenges, and failures.

When is it time to switch jobs?

While there will be bumps along the road as you go along your career journey, knowing what your professional purpose is and having an identity at work can give your life meaning and motivation, according to Necla Keleş, a professor in the Department of Organizational Management, at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul. This strong sense of identity and motivation can help you get through even the toughest days at work.

Pause and reflect

Are you looking for signs that you need a new career? Sometimes, finding the answer can boil down to staying in tune with your core values and beliefs. This means assessing how your current job measures up to those or can address them. You can ask yourself the following questions to get started:

• What are the factors that drive me at work?
• What is important to me at work?
• Are my skills being maximised in my role?
• Am I making the contributions I want to make?
• Do I foresee any growth in this role?

Answering these questions can help you determine whether the rough patch at work is just a phase or whether it is time to look for another career.

When your current job does not meet the answers to the questions above, it may be time to take a long, hard look at your career. Your job should be lifting you up, not pulling you down. 

Do you need to switch jobs? Here are tell-tale signs that you need a new career

Staying in a job you are unhappy with can lead to common workplace issues such as burnout and poor mental health, which can further negatively affect your performance.

A job that no longer brings you joy or meaning may also adversely affect your relationships and living situation. Consider the following: you are working at a job that does not particularly motivate you to do well. This stunts your career growth and affects your opportunities for satisfaction and happiness due to a stagnant income.

A career mismatch can negatively impact your mood, while it can also take you longer before finishing work — further sacrificing that precious quality time with family. Here are some of the signs that say it may be time for you to switch jobs, as well as tips on how to better reflect on these tell-tale symptoms.

1. You constantly dread Mondays

Everybody dreads Monday at some level, and people will have their own ways of dealing with it. Yet if the idea of getting out of bed alone is so dreadful, or facing Monday or going to work is something you dread so much that it affects your quality of work or hampers your productivity, there could be a more pressing problem.

Tip before changing careers: 

Take time to reflect on your feelings. Try to get to the root cause of why you feel like this in the first place so you can address it immediately. For example, if you realise you are overworked, then you may want to find time to discuss this with your boss. If you think it might be something else, figure out the primary cause of this emotion, and then take it from there.

A career change is not something that you should rush, so don’t pressure yourself to make a decision right away. In the meantime, find even a small window to do the things that motivate you or make you happy. Small steps can help you deal with this career phase more effectively.

2. You no longer dream, or you lack the motivation to dream

Dreaming is undoubtedly a sign that your workplace is working for you. Dreaming can help motivate you to achieve more and be more. Being with the right company or organisation that provides the growth you seek and helps you feel secure can motivate you to grow the extra mile and imagine possibilities. Yet when your dreams and ambitions start to dim because you feel down all the time, this could be a sign that the job that you are in is not healthy for your growth. 

Tip before changing careers: 

Know your whys and hows. These will help you understand yourself better in finding a job that suits your needs, wants, and aspirations. Ask yourself, ‘Why did I apply for that job in the first place?’ If you applied for that job for the sake of experience and you feel like you have paid your dues, then maybe it is time you give yourself the chance to do what you want. 

3. You feel that your career growth is stunted

One important factor that drives an employee’s drive and motivation at work is the opportunity for career growth. It is essential in helping you achieve career happiness and satisfaction. Knowing that the opportunities for growth at a company are wide open can positively affect career disposition. Conversely, “dead-end jobs” or even jobs where you simply cannot visualise yourself growing can hamper opportunities for happiness and satisfaction at work. 

Tip before changing careers: 

Before handing in your resignation letter, it may be worth talking to your boss first about seizing more career growth opportunities in the company — perhaps there are other paths you may not have taken into account yet. 

You can also find other areas that can help you grow even outside work, such as picking up a hobby, a sport, or learning a new interest to improve yourself. Have you wanted to try painting, or take up the habit of exercising more? Maybe this is something you can do during the weekend or when you are not at work.

4. You keep comparing yourself to others

Comparing yourself to other people is a quick way to further demotivate yourself at work. If the success of others makes you feel bad instead of inspiring or motivating you, this may indicate a longing for something more for yourself. 

Tip before changing careers: 

While healthy competition can keep you on your toes and improve further, the only person you should compare yourself with is, well, yourself.

When you come across successful people, treat each encounter as a learning opportunity. Strike a conversation with these people, learn from their stories, and ask how they achieved success. See what insights you can glean from them. They might even give you some pointers if you want a career change. 

While changing jobs or pursuing a different career path can be scary, it is also an exciting endeavour that opens the door to a wide range of possibilities. But before taking the leap, take the time to consider these tips. Reflect, be proactive, and be responsible for the change that you want in your life. These will help equip you best for a possible change in direction.

Ready to jumpstart your journey on a new career path? Then #LetsGetToWork! Put yourself out there by updating your JobStreet profile. Finally, for more expert tips and advice on finding your dream career, visit our Career Resources Hub.