When is it time to move on to a new career?
When is it time to move on to a new career?
Jenna Goudreau of Forbes.com published a great blog post and slideshow yesterday about the “Top 10 Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Job.” It got me thinking about my own experiences in my role as Dean of Career Management Services for Peirce College.
In all that I’ve witnessed when it comes to those top warning signs that it is time to make a career change, there are certainly some common themes, many of them reflected in Jenna’s article.
One of my former managers always said: “Your career is like a bike ride. If you’re coasting, you’re really going downhill!” My advice is to start pedaling — either develop additional skills and increase productivity or move on to a more challenging, rewarding opportunity. When working with the students and alumni who come through the doors of the Peirce Career Development Services Office, we tell them it’s time to pedal toward a new role if:
You’ve lost your passion.
If you liken this professional relationship to your personal relationships, you know it’s time to move on when your heart and mind are in conflict. If you’re no longer passionate about the work you do but you are trying to rationalize staying because of your fears (it’s a tough job market, there are great perks, etc.), you should consider developing a transition plan. You do not want to stay in a professional relationship that isn’t fulfilling.
You’ve lost your momentum.
If your productivity has dropped off, it’s another good sign you need to move on. There’s no such thing as mastering your job. You can certainly improve your skills and the quality of your work, but if you believe you have perfected what you do, you are limiting your opportunity for further growth and development. A good job, like a good exercise routine, will continuously challenge you. Build that sweat equity!
You’ve lost anchoring.
Some roles are your home. They’re comfortable, inviting, and reflect who you are. Other roles are like apartments. They serve a temporary need. They are meant to be transitional. It is important to understand the difference and to know whether you should move on or settle in. A sign that a role is transitional is that it serves a purpose for a period of time. If you get to a point where you’ve learned all that you can and have given all of your skills, talents, and energy without a return on investment, it’s likely time to consider this role a resume builder and transition to a more suitable job.
You’ve lost yourself.
We all know in our very spirit when a job is no longer for us. What’s important is that we’re honest with ourselves about when it is time to move on. Don’t let your productivity or demeanor lead others to make the decision for you.
The difference between a successful career transition and one that isn’t as successful is your outlook. If you view a career change as a road peppered with obstacles, getting from where you are to where you want to be will be challenging. If you view it as a new route that you’re well equipped to navigate, then it will be a rewarding journey.
Don’t wait for your annual review to begin to think about the next phase of your career. The best time to think about your transition is when you begin to lose your edge. So start pedaling! If you need training wheels to get started, the CDS team is always here to help.
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2 thoughts on “When is it time to move on to a new career?”
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I think that once you are not enjoying your career you should switch careers because your only going to start doing worse in the job and that could lead to more problems. If you immediately start looking for other opportunities you can still keep the job until you find something you want to do. This will keep your mind not as focused on that job and looking forward to the other job while still making your current job not as bad.
Hi –
In this shaky economy my recommendation would be to first secure a new job before leaving your current one. Most of us dislike our job and many of us realize it’s true worth after we quit.
I don’t say do something that you don’t like, but in my decade long hiring experience, people generally apply for a new job with a similar profile that pays more… so its not really the job that is the problem.
Be clear, be confident, be successful.
Good Luck!