When to make a career change?

Having a job these days can seem like something difficult to achieve, which is why the idea of changing your current job may cause some anxiety and uncertainty. However, changing jobs is a natural and advisable step if you want to advance professionally and achieve personal goals. That’s why it’s important to identify your feelings toward the work you do, as well as the situations that make you uncomfortable or affect you in your current work environment.

Here are some circumstances that may arise, signalling that it’s time to think about making a career change:

1. You've been at your company for a long time without professional growth 

At first, it’s exciting—you have a new job, and you aspire to learn new tools, build a network, and advance as a professional. But time passes, you’ve been there for a year, and everything remains the same: the same position, the same people, and you haven’t learned anything relevant to your profession that would allow you to advance. While it’s true that you have a secure income with your current job, staying stagnant in a role where you’re not growing professionally also means you’re likely to have the same salary in the coming years. Additionally, as the years go by and we mature, combined with limited professional growth, the chances of finding a new job also decrease. If this is your situation, it’s advisable to start considering a job change. Here are some tips that might help you in your job search.

2. Salary: Other professionals earn more for the same work you do 

When you start a job, especially if it’s your first, you initially accept the offered salary without much thought. This is often because you need work experience or a stable job. However, as time goes on, your needs, situation, and priorities change, and the salary you originally accepted may no longer benefit you or meet your current needs. It can also become frustrating to know that other professionals in your field, with similar skills, are currently earning more than you. If this is your situation and you’ve tried negotiating a salary increase with your bosses but nothing has changed, then you should start considering looking for a job that pays you what you deserve.

3. Monotonous work with no challenges 

It can become very boring and even tedious to carry out activities that have become a predictable routine with no challenges. While it’s great to have a stable job, it’s normal to feel dissatisfied if your professional development in your current company has reached its limit or your future goals and objectives have changed. In this situation, it can be very difficult to decide to look for a new job or even change the course of your career, but keep in mind that it’s important to find a balance between personal and professional fulfilment. If you don’t feel fulfilled or satisfied with your job, this can begin to affect your physical and mental health, as well as your job performance—without motivation, the quality of your work can decline.

4. Company restructuring with mass layoffs 

Sometimes, situations arise that are beyond our control, such as when the company you work for is restructuring its staff and you suspect that you’ll soon be laid off, reassigned to a position you don’t like, or have your salary reduced. If these are your circumstances, then you should consider a job change—it’s better to have a Plan B before the worst happens. If you need help or guidance, you can seek the assistance of a professional coach to guide you in your new job search process.

These are some of the reasons why you might consider changing jobs. There may also be other reasons to consider, such as a toxic work environment, personal reasons, and more. If you have doubts about your current job situation or are about to embark on a new path to finding employment, we recommend seeking advice and useful information for your job search.

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