The job market has changed significantly over the past couple of years. In the past decade or so, the job market was already beginning to change. Things were becoming more technologically integrated, the existing technology was improving and advancing more rapidly, and more and more people were entering the realm of entrepreneurship and small business ownership.
This societal push for independent work and success even gained a place in the eye of mainstream media and entertainment. The show Shark Tank hit the scene a while back and was an immediate success. The entire premise is that a variety of entrepreneurs and startup businesses would pitch their products, services, or business models to a series of well-known and famous entrepreneurs and business moguls. If the investors liked what they heard, they would put an offer in for some level of stake in the company, and through editing, the entire thing is quite dramatic. Then, in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the entire working economy changed.
The pandemic changed the world in many ways, and probably permanently. One of the ways the pandemic influenced the job market was that many people were forced out of their positions due to downsizing, layoffs, or total closures. Others left the workforce on their own accord to pursue early retirement, and even more still decided it was time for a career change or wanted to take on entrepreneurship in their own right.
Starting off on your own can be extremely rewarding and gratifying, so here are a few ways you can tell if it’s time for a career change.
Each stage in your career provides an opportunity to learn more about yourself: your talents, interests, challenges, and workplace values. Career choices you may perceive as ‘missteps’ often prove to be the most informative and transformational on the journey to a fulfilling career.
Shayna Joubert, Author, Northeastern
You’re Just Collecting a Check
One of the easiest ways to check in with yourself about the level of work fulfillment you feel is to think about why it is that you’re working. Why are you doing what you do? If you’re simply showing up each and every day to collect a check and then bounce, then that’s a pretty strong indication that you aren’t getting much fulfillment from your work. This is also an indication that your engagement levels are probably low, which in turn means you likely aren’t being that productive with your time, either. It can be extremely difficult to stay motivated when you don’t feel like you’re actively making a contribution or valuable impact.
Many of us know what it’s like to be in a job just for the money, and it’s honestly more draining than being underpaid in a role that you love. The best, though, is being paid well to do a job you love doing.
Den Montero, Marketing Director, Moeflavor
If you find that you’re only in your current role for the money, you should consider taking steps to set yourself up for a graceful exit. Think about what it is you could see yourself doing with the next chapter of your life, and take some time to come up with a realistic action plan that can propel you into a more fulfilling and engaging career for yourself down the line.
I think we learn more about what we want to do through jobs that we hate than through the jobs that we love. This can help you figure out more definitively what you like about the jobs and what you know you don’t want to spend your time or energy on.
Max Ade, CEO, Pickleheads
Too Much Burnout Too Frequently
Workplace culture has come under the microscope in recent years, so to speak. This can also be partially attributed to the impact of the global pandemic. One aspect of workplace culture that’s come into a conversation specifically is the concept of burnout. Modern employees are starting to backpedal on the hustle culture that insists on equating work with life. If you find that you’re in a toxic workplace culture that continually works you to the point of burning out, it may be time for you to consider a career change or at least a change of employer.
It’s up to leaders of an organization to set the tone for the culture. What’s the point of working people past the point of exhaustion? It’s just going to drive them to leave, and nobody wants to see high-quality employees walk out the door.
Cody Candee, Founder and CEO, Bounce Luggage Storage
There are many ways that modern workplaces are actively addressing burnout in hopes that they can prevent employees from ever experiencing burnout. One way they can do this is by embracing the remote work culture and allowing employees a bit more flexibility in their scheduling and working hours. The remote work culture has proven itself valid and viable on both the employee side of things as well as the employer side. Employers are seeing the benefit of more engaged and productive employees during working hours, while individuals are finding it much easier to achieve and maintain a work-life balance. This has truly been a win-win for everyone involved.
The remote work culture has been really excellent for many because it’s helped people remember that it’s okay to do more with life than work. Not everyone wants to marry their career.
Juan Pablo Cappello, Co-Founder and CEO, Nue Life
You Feel a Strong Calling
Many people often pine away for a dream career in one industry or another. If you really and truly feel a strong calling toward a certain industry, though, it’s just a matter of time before you’re going to find yourself there. You may as well make an active choice and have a hand in how you end up there. If you really feel a strong calling toward a specific career, no matter how unattainable it may seem, start making a plan, and consider how you could take steps in your daily and weekly life to actually achieve a position in that industry.
If you feel a calling to something, a real calling in your gut and in your heart, you should follow that. You never know where it might end up leading you in the future.
Lionel Mora, CEO, Neoplants
It isn’t always easy to follow your dreams. In fact, it can be very scary. However, nothing worth doing is easy. Not to mention, as the past few years have shown, even choosing a safe and stable career can end up not working out. So why not risk failing at something you love doing instead of risk failing at something you just tolerate doing?
If you’ve ever been fired from a job that you didn’t enjoy in the first place, you might realize there’s not a reason to work if you don’t like what you’re doing, besides the obvious paycheck. There has to be a strong enough motivation to make you want to overcome the obstacles, no matter what they are.
Dr. Minhas, Founder and CEO, GerdLi
A Side Hustle is Taking Off
Many working professionals in today’s day and age also run a side hustle. Typically, this is a good way for people to make some extra money that they can either throw into savings or hobbies or however they see fit. Every once in a while, though, someone’s side hustle will start to grow larger and larger and might even become more profitable than their day job. At that point, the person may want to consider leaving their day job to pursue a more profitable side hustle with which they have more fun anyway.
Side hustles are great when they take off because more often than not, they were born out of passion. Just look at Patagonia, for example. That whole company started as a tent on the side of a mountain trail.
Justin Olson, Chief Marketing Officer, Fast Pace Health
Entrepreneurs are made in all shapes and sizes and come from all different places. It’s about resilience, learning from failure, and not being afraid to take big risks. If this sounds like you, and you have a side hustle that’s doing well, it might be time to trust yourself and take that leap.
There are some really great entrepreneurial stories out there that don’t get much mainstream attention. Then, of course, you have the iconic stories, like Steve Jobs working on the first macintosh out of his garage. Sometimes you just have to see things a little bit differently to make a massive change.
Alex Wang, CEO, Ember Fund
You Dread Your Days
Finally, a massive red flag to look out for when considering a career change is if you straight up dread your days. If you wake up feeling drained of energy and completely unmotivated to go to work, that’s a clear indication that you need to start looking for a position that will bring you more fulfillment.
No organization leader wants to see people miserable. People should be happy, excited, and even enthusiastic about the work they do, at least from time-to-time. It’s better for everyone when people are happy with their roles.
Datha Santomieri, Co-Founder and Vice-President, Steadily
On top of that, if you continually dread your days, your productivity is likely going to suffer, as will your mental health. This makes it even more imperative for you to find a position that will meet more of your needs.
On top of that, if you continually dread your days, your productivity is likely going to suffer, as will your mental health. This makes it even more imperative for you to find a position that will meet more of your needs.
Nick Allen, Founder, SportsLingo
A Few Final Thoughts on Pivoting Careers
If you’ve been considering a career change, now is honestly a great time to make one. It’s an employee-friendly job market, and employers are desperate to bring on loyal, hard-working, and high-quality employees wherever they can get them and regardless of experience level.
There may come a time in your life when you decide to change careers—perhaps even more than once. Career changes happen for several reasons, but when they do, it’s advantageous to be strategic. A researched, thoughtful career change will likely lead to greater job satisfaction.
Jamie Birt, Career Coach, Indeed
