Should I Quit My 9-5 Job?
You should never settle for a career that doesn’t fill you with passion. Your work will fill a large portion of your life, and being in the wrong career can leave you feeling miserable and burnt out each day. You have to be honest with yourself when evaluating your career and attempting to identify if it is right for you.
Keep that in mind and watch for three of the most common signs that it is time for a career switch. It can be scary to switch up careers, but can also prove to be one of the most beneficial decisions you may make.
You Are Underpaid.
It’s no secret that millions are unhappy with their salaries. In fact, a report from Indeed found that only about 19 percent of Americans were comfortable with the salary they were receiving. In that study, another 60 percent stated that they would need at least $6,000 more per year to feel comfortable.
The thing is, all these people unhappy with their salaries are skilled workers in their own regard. Unfortunately, traditional job paths are not where the money lies. Tech-based jobs are where money can be found. For perspective, becoming a data scientist is a career path that can lead to a median salary of well over $100,000 per year.
Knowing what your skills are worth and not receiving the proper salary can be a disheartening experience for anyone. With that said, finding a career with a higher salary that utilizes the same skillset you have now is the best way to conduct a career switch.
Your Skills Aren’t Appreciated and Utilized.
In the workforce, everybody wants a tiny bit of validation every now and then, whether that comes in the form of a compliment from a boss or a raise. A large reason why some workers may feel that they need to switch careers is that their unique skills aren’t appreciated or used.
Could you imagine working for years to develop your craft, you finally land a nice job, and then you use none of the skills that you spend years developing? Worst of all, those skills may not even be acknowledged by your employers. This is hands down one of the quickest ways to become dissatisfied with your work.
In that regard, knowing the value and proper utilization of your skills is important. When originally searching for a job, many people do not even put their skills on the resume when applying. Adding computer skills to your resume can cause employers to better align you with job openings and make you seem like a more versatile worker as well. Know your worth in the workplace and make sure your skills are being used and valued. If they are not, it is a great sign that a career change should be on your horizon.
You Complain About Your Job Outside the Office.
When you leave the office, do you find yourself complaining to your friends and family about what you do? If you were truly satisfied with the career you held, you would be excitedly discussing your day-to-day tasks instead of cursing them.
This often results from a bad career match. For whatever reason, you did not manage to head into the career that was best for you. Fortunately, there are free career quizzes you can take to see if a better option lays in your path.
Settling for the career you have is never an option when there is a more exciting option that you can pursue. You don’t even have to know off the top of your head what you want to do, but identifying it using a matching quiz is a great way to find a field to switch to.
Conclusion.
It is unreasonable to imagine that every person will enjoy the career they choose. Combing your passion and your work is a difficult task. That being said, picking a career that actually interests you and uses the full range of your skillset is the best way to be satisfied with your work. Don’t join the millions of Americans unsatisfied with their career and desiring a higher salary. Identify what you want and pursue it as much as you can.
