When to Change Jobs: Top 10 Signals for a Career Change

The typical person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. Needless to say, your job has a huge impact on your life. So why spend those hours doing something that you don’t enjoy, don’t get paid enough for, or don’t feel valued for doing? If you’re experiencing these issues, you may want to take action. Pay attention to the key signals that will indicate it’s time for a job or career change.

Top 10 signals that it's time for a career change

It’s normal to feel disengaged and dissatisfied at work occasionally. But if the feelings stick around and refuse to pass, you may be ready for a bigger change in your professional life.

How do you know if you’re not just experiencing a passing feeling of boredom but something more instead? Let us help you simplify the decision-making process as we discuss the 10 key signs it’s time to change jobs.

1. Lack of growth and development
2. Declining job satisfaction
3. Constant stress and burnout
4. Misaligned values and company culture
5. Poor work-life balance
6. Changes in personal goals and priorities
7. Underutilization of skills and talents
8. Limited income growth
9. Lack of job security
10. Better opportunities elsewhere

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1. Lack of growth and development

Feeling stagnant at your current job? Or perhaps you’re craving more responsibilities at work? When was the last time you felt challenged? Have you recently learned a new skill? These are key questions to ask yourself if you feel like you’re at a standstill at work.

Some workers are happy with the status quo. But for many people, a successful career means growth and development. If your current job doesn’t offer many opportunities for career development, it’s only natural that you may feel stuck and dissatisfied. Almost 60% of employees say they’re likely to leave their company if it doesn’t offer professional development or career training to drive advancement.

If you have this situation, you’re seeing the first sign that it may be time to change jobs.

2. Declining job satisfaction

Are you happy with your current position? The answer to this simple question could help you figure out whether it’s time to make a change.

Dwindling job satisfaction is a common reason employees leave their jobs. Lack of growth, no recognition for achievements, disappointment with leadership or the work environment, or just plain boredom can all be reasons for dissatisfaction. If you no longer feel engaged and satisfied with your job, now might be the right time to look for a new position.

3. Constant stress and burnout

“Fast-paced” sounds great on a job description but the reality of a fast-paced job can often lead to constant stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. According to Forbes, “more American workers are experiencing burnout than at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic”. Ignoring job burnout can negatively impact your physical and mental health. It’s not uncommon for burnout to cause further stress, fatigue, high blood pressure, irritability, and insomnia. Burnout could also affect your work performance and bleed into your personal life.

Stress isn’t a badge of honor. You can do work that’s meaningful without burning yourself out. Maybe it’s time for a new job or perhaps even a career change?

4. Misaligned values and company culture

When you began working at your current company, you were probably excited to work there and even proud to be an employee. But as time has passed, do you find yourself believing less in the company and its principles? Maybe there’s a disconnect between your personal core values and the company’s mission now.

Or perhaps the corporate culture has taken a turn for the worse and the work environment now feels toxic. Signs of toxic work culture differ from one organization to another, but might include rampant dysfunctional conflicts, lack of trust, unhealthy work-life boundaries, low morale, and overall negativity.

Toxic work environments and company cultures can lead to employees wanting to get out as soon as possible. In studying the Great Resignation, the MIT Sloan Management Review found that, “A toxic corporate culture is 10.4 times more likely to contribute to employee attrition than compensation.” If this situation sounds like yours, take this as a sign that’s it time to consider a job change.

5. Poor work-life balance

No matter how much you might like your job, you still need to have a rich and full life outside of work. Your well-being depends on it. A balanced life allows you to enjoy and make the most of all aspects of your life—not just work. Your family, friends, hobbies, health, me-time, and any other priorities become equally important.

A truly balanced life will give you the flexibility to have a successful professional life, while still having the time and energy to focus on and enjoy your personal life. When you find increasing difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance, it might be time to rethink your career.

6. Changes in personal goals and priorities

Have your personal interests or career goals changed over time? That’s normal. Age, parenthood, health, and other life changes can often trigger rethinking work and life priorities. This reflection can leave you wanting to do work that’s better aligned with your current personal goals and interests.

Maybe you’re tired of being an employee in your current job and want to start your own business instead. Or, your current role won’t allow you to work from home, so you want to consider a career that’s better suited to remote work. You may just be bored with your job and want to do more meaningful work. You may decide to pursue your second-choice career path rather than the one you initially followed.

Whatever causes this rethinking, this shift in your long-term career aspirations could mean a new career is in the cards. Once you recognize this need, you can start planning your transition toward a new career path.

7. Underutilization of skills and talents

Sometimes people simply outgrow jobs. What may have been a dream job five years ago may now feel unfulfilling and uninspiring. Your skills and experience have grown, yet they’re very underutilized in your current position. The work may be easy and your co-workers are great, but these aren’t good enough reasons to stay if the job itself doesn’t challenge you any more.

If you’re feeling bored or unchallenged in your professional life, it may be time to move on to a new role or a new career. Switching jobs may be just the stimulation and motivation you need to relight that fire in your soul.

8. Limited income growth

A great job stops being great if you’re not fairly compensated for it. Research by the Pew Research Center shows that low pay is among the biggest reasons employees left their jobs. Among survey participants,  63% agreed that poor compensation was a major or minor motivator for their quitting.

With the rising cost of living, more workers are looking at long-term opportunities for salary growth within their roles. Your compensation should be fair and help you work toward your financial goals. If your current salary doesn’t meet your expectations, you may need to look elsewhere for another job with a higher salary.

9. Lack of job security

Another key sign to keep an eye out for is a lack of job security. If your current company is downsizing and initiating a lot of layoffs, it’s only natural to wonder if your role is safe. Similarly, if business isn’t going too well, you may worry about your job too.

If you’re feeling insecure about your job or the company instability, don’t wait until it’s too late. You could be forced to look elsewhere without time to find the best fit before your safety funds run out.

10. Better opportunities elsewhere

Often, the things that you dislike or are dissatisfied with at your current employer can be solved by simply accepting a job elsewhere. When employees feel better valued in a different situation or will be compensated better, they’re likely to leap to a new company.

Watch for new opportunities that will offer you better compensation, career growth, and job satisfaction. Getting multiple job offers at other companies can be a sign that your skills and experience are desirable and valuable to other employers.

Preparing for a career change

You’ve seen the signs and they all point in the same direction—a job or even—a career change. Hurrah! Don’t let the fear of change cripple you. Make a plan, get prepared, and your job change could end up becoming a wonderful life change.

Start with a self-assessment

Instead of diving straight into a search for your next job, consider taking time to think about what’s next for you. If you know you want a change, but aren’t quite sure of what you want to do, try to articulate your personal and professional goals. Think about whether you want a new job, a career change, or perhaps something else entirely. Being honest with yourself is the first step for any change.

Learn new skills

Want to make a big change in your career or make yourself more desirable for a new job? It’s time to upgrade your skill set. Commit to learning new skills that will up your worth in the job market. Not sure what to focus on? This guide highlights some of the best skills to pursue and include in your resume. Research the most in-demand jobs and skills to start with. Then, figure out where your interests lie and focus on what will help you work in that field.

Begin networking

Networking is a crucial aspect of the job search or career change puzzle. Let your existing network of friends, family and professional connections know you’re looking for a change. Connect with recruiters or hiring managers on LinkedIn. Use social media to create new connections. Join professional Facebook or LinkedIn groups to learn from others in your industry and potentially make new connections

Develop a transition plan

Finally, create a plan for your career transition. This could involve:

• Creating a new resume and cover letter
• Applying to jobs
• Taking a course
• Saving money for the transitional phase
• Building your network
• Quitting your existing job
• … and so much more

Your plan will be unique for what you personally want to achieve. Make a list of everything you need to do to make this career change a reality.

For more career advice on switching jobs, be sure to check out our article: How To Change Jobs: Switch Roles With Confidence and Ease.

Considering a career change?

Changing jobs or careers can feel daunting. It’s also exciting. Maintain your mental health by focusing on the excitement and not on the feelings of being overwhelmed. This is just the beginning of a wonderful new career for you.

If you’re struggling to find direction, a career coach may help you find the clarity you need.

You may even decide that your next career move is going to be all about working independently. In that case, freelancing may be just the right option for you. Sign up for a freelancer account on Upwork and start looking for new jobs today.