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Are You in the wrong career?
How do you know if you've chosen the wrong career?
Dec 7, 2021 · Spoiler alert: you do. It’s just the job. Your co-workers are complacent, and it annoys you. – If your worst fear is becoming your co-workers, then, no doubt, you’re in the wrong job.
Apr 8, 2014 · Here are six signs that you may want to start looking for a new job. If you struggle to get out of bed on a workday or live solely for the weekend, you could be in the wrong job, wrong ...
Oct 29, 2014 · 10 Signs You’re In The Wrong Job, And What To Do About It. If you think you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, don’t just shove those feelings aside–assess them. You dread Monday ...
- Overview
- What is a wrong career?
- Signs you chose the wrong career
- What to do if you chose the wrong career
Despite planning for a rewarding career, you might feel that your professional life requires a major change. Many people choose the wrong career at first, take time to plan a new path and find great success in a new role or industry. If you have doubts about your current career, you might benefit from learning about the serious indicators of a wron...
A wrong career is one that consistently fails to meet the qualities that your "right" career would have. Your skills, preferences, value placed on work and beliefs determine a well-chosen career, and these factors may change with time. A career that felt right initially may now seem wrong for you.Most professionals have to make some compromises between their ideal and actual work circumstances, but it's important to consider if the compromises you're making are acceptable or are helping you achieve long-term goals. If not, you may be in the wrong career.Here are the factors you might look at in assessing how suitable of a career you've chosen:
•Skills and abilities: Your career should make use of the skills and abilities you naturally possess or have developed.
•Education: Sometimes a temporary or convenient job opportunity ends up becoming a years-long investment of your time and energy that doesn't align with your educational background or interests.
•Importance of professional development: Some people apply their ambition to their careers and work for higher pay, promotions, respect in an industry and more responsibility. You may feel differently about the role of work in your life and prefer a career that meets your financial needs but allows you to apply your ambition elsewhere.
•Financial needs: You likely have a unique set of financial needs that require a minimum amount of income. A wrong career prevents you from making the salary you need to be safe, healthy and happy.
•Beliefs and values: If your career contradicts beliefs and values you care about, you might be in the wrong career. Right careers align with and draw insights from what you believe and how you think.
Effects on mental health
No matter your profession, you can expect to have troubling periods where you feel stressed, anxious or frustrated. While not pleasant, these feelings may mean you care about your work and are passionate about producing excellent results. For instance, a doctor may have to treat a difficult case that makes them feel emotions usually considered negative, but these emotions might mean the doctor sincerely wants to figure out a problem and ensure the patient's wellbeing, not that they're in the wrong career.However, if your career has continuously caused you to feel negative emotions and mentally unhealthy, you may reconsider your career choice. A right career can improve your mental health by giving you a sense of purpose, providing you with positive social interactions, giving you the resources to take care of yourself and improving your self-esteem. If you believe your career can't offer any of these benefits, then it might be time to look for a new profession.
Physical symptoms
Physical health provides several insights into whether you're in a wrong career. Your body reflects your mental health. If your chronic physical ailments parallel your mental health symptoms, you might be suffering because of stress from work. The demands of your career may also make it impossible to care for your body's needs with exercise, sleep and regular diet. Most people work until in their 60s. If the schedule you'd maintain for decades equals decades of physical pain, you might be in the wrong career.Sometimes physical symptoms are much simpler indicators of being in the wrong career. If you work in a physically demanding job and an injury or bodily condition makes performing your duties dangerous or painful, then you might consider a career change.Related: 20 Signs You're Overworked and Underpaid
Poor career outlook
Your career outlook has two key components: trends affecting the profession and your personal feelings about the future. You likely have some understanding of the economic trends that may improve or diminish your future prospects, but it's helpful to study what economists and industry leaders predict for your career. For instance, if you choose a career driving taxis, you might feel the hiring environment is currently promising, but it might be useful to know that automated cars may eliminate most taxi driver positions in the future.How you feel about your future also may help determine if you've chosen the right profession. Ideally, you know how you can progress in your role, desire to improve your work performance and look forward to building your career. If you're pessimistic about continuing in your field or feel there is no opportunity for growth, you might rethink your professional future.
1. Reevaluate your conclusion
Before making any decisions, allow yourself to reevaluate what's making you feel pessimistic or upset about work. You may be correct about needing a career change, but there are other possible causes, such as: •Wrong work environment: Sometimes the actual issue isn't your career, but where you are working. Poorly managed workplaces, difficult colleagues or struggling organizations can all lead you to conclude prematurely that the negative emotions you experience result from what you do instead of where you do it. •External factors: It's important to ask if the conditions of your personal life and wellbeing are influencing your beliefs about your career. Your relationships, your general mental health and the recent events in your life might make you feel a meaningful need for change, but changing your career might not address the core difficulties you experience. •Temporary frustrations: While it would be preferable if temporary only meant professional difficulties lasted hours or days, temporary sometimes means months or years. Consider if your otherwise rewarding career is requiring you to sacrifice for a difficult but ultimately worthwhile period. •Lack of guidance: Evaluating your career requires some understanding of how you can grow and what you can expect. To feel more informed and optimistic about your future, you might seek mentors or career coaches who can address the concerns making you doubt your career choice. Related: 15 Ways To Deal With Burnout
2. Rank your priorities
If you conclude with certainty that you're in the wrong career, then ranking your priorities can help you make a better choice this time. Keeping in mind that no career can be perfect, list the priorities you associate with work and decide which ones are most important for you to configure into future roles.
3. Define qualifications
While there might be an array of careers that meet your priorities, you likely have qualifications that make some options more sensible or easier to accomplish. Review the skills and abilities you gained from your education and professional experiences and compare them to the job descriptions that most intrigue you. Changing careers usually requires learning new material or skills, so identify any additional training necessary to adapt your qualifications for your transition.
- Other People Love the Job. Look around. Is this a career that others aspire to? Are other people happy, advancing, making money? Do other people love the job?
- You're Making Sacrifices. Are you giving up personal time, family time, recreational spending, dates, parties, everything for the sake of your career?
- You Have Imposter Syndrome. Let's not sugar coat imposter syndrome – it feels like crap. Every time you're asked to step up, you get anxiety like the worst type of stage fright.
- You Want Your Boss's Job. If you're not sure about your job but your boss's-boss's gig is making you green with envy, that's a sure sign that you're on the right track.
May 17, 2018 · Some three-quarters of employees would jump at another offer. Here's how to know if your career is screaming for change—and ways to find a better fit.
May 6, 2018 · If you’re unhappy and you know it—but you’re not sure whether you need a new job or a new career path—then read on to find out what the wrong career looks like, and what you can do if you realize you need to make a change.
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