Is Now the Right Time to Make a Career Change?

We spend 80% of our lives working. If you are not happy in your career, that’s a pretty big chunk of time in your life to spend completely disengaged. It makes sense that you’re wondering if it’s time for a change. In order to decide what’s right for you, first consider 3 questions:

Why are you asking NOW?

Think about how you were feeling about your job before the pandemic. If you felt good about your job pre-COVID, then your frustrations may be a result of the current climate. In this case, consider these options before making any drastic career changes:

-  Attitude: Determine what part of your experience can improve with a shift in mindset.

- Action: Determine what is in your control to change your current circumstance.

Why do you want a new job?

If this is something you’ve been thinking about since before the pandemic, then you want to define what the main problem is before looking for new jobs. Having a job while looking for a job can be overwhelming, and without clarity, can lead to two traps: blindly taking another ill-fitting job out of desperation OR getting stuck in a current job for longer than necessary because there’s no direction for the job search process. Defining the main problem addresses these traps because it creates a greater sense of awareness around what you need in your next role which (1) helps you avoid blindly job searching and (2) motivates you to be more proactive in your search.

How can you afford to make a change?

Notice the operating word HOW in this question. As overwhelming as it can be to look for a job while working a full-time job, it is also a good position to be in because there is no financial urgency. Give yourself this time to be intentional in your search. Explore your curiosity without giving up your main source of income. Maybe this means having a side hustle. Maybe this means going back to school at night. Moving in the direction of work you care about does not have to mean giving up your financial security.

So, is now the right time to make a career change?

If you are unhappy in your job, now is certainly the right time for A change. That change may be within your current role. If you know you want to be in a different career, there will never be a “right” time to make that shift. But it might be worth asking yourself how much longer you want to sacrifice that 80%?