How Do You Know When It’s Time for a Career Change?
Todd Downing
in BEST Advisory, BEST Industry News, BEST Recruiting, For Candidates
While professional development is viewed differently by everyone and is often driven by a person’s behaviors, the vast majority of people do want to experience continual growth in their careers. A primary rule of thumb is that no matter what this growth looks like, it is important to be going towards something and not running away from something. There are many other factors to think about as you determine what career growth may be for you.
- Does your company proactively invest with you in planning your professional growth? Do they actively invest in you earning certifications and being active in industry associations or professional peer development groups?
- Timing – everyone is on a different career time clock, and one’s stage of life influences this. What does your timing for professional growth look like now and in 5 or 10 years?
- Is it the job itself? What responsibilities would you change or add to feel you are growing professionally?
- Is it the company? Somewhere, somehow, the cultural fit became misaligned. You can envision being happy in your current role but find growth coming from being in a different culture, a different product or service line, a different market focus, or even a different industry.
- Is it you? People change, and that’s OK! Even the most committed professionals will, on average, find themselves in 3 different careers during their lifetime.
Here are specific indicators that it may be time for a career change.
- The body, mind, and spirit will be talking to you. Are you constantly tired? Is your body having physical reactions that are stress-related? Is it hard to concentrate? Do you dread Mondays? Even when you have great energy, are you just not enthused about being at work?
- Is your job negatively affecting your confidence and self-esteem? Do you second-guess decisions? Do you find it difficult to make a decision?
- Are you only staying because of the money? You can buy some great toys, but they don’t increase your happiness. Is the next bonus target the only reason you are still there?
- Are you constantly thinking about or researching other jobs? Do the career positions other people you know have seem much more attractive to you because they seem so happy? Or do you even find yourself jealous of their careers?
- Have you become apathetic to your company, your position, your coworkers, or your industry? You don’t care about the decisions being made, personal or company successes, or positive industry news.
- Do family and friends share their concerns about your mental state and happiness? Have you disconnected socially from them? Are you quiet when together?
If any of these ring true, spend time thoughtfully identifying where your career passions are taking you and invest in what new skills this path requires. Contact me at tdowning@bhcagroup.com for a Candidate Objective Worksheet, which will help you define your career goals, vision, and the parameters that are important to you!
Speaking of career development, we are sharing a few current growth opportunities (click here) we are hiring for, which may best capture where your career passions are moving you toward. What are you passionate about? Where do you feel most fulfilled? Whatever that may be, you should be doing just that in your career. We’d love to connect to learn all about it and support your professional journey wherever possible.
Todd Downing is a Managing Partner for Best Human Capital Advisory Group and leads the Horticulture & Green Industry executive search and advisory services. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and a passion for supporting its continued professional growth.
