You may be ready to find a new career, or you might just want to have things be better at your current job. Or perhaps you are unhappy, but it really has more to do with the rest of your life than your current work situation. So what should you do? Is it time for you to find a new job, or are there other things you should do instead? Here are some signs of unhappiness from a career coach expert, as well as some advice on what to do:
Are you burned out?
There is a reason we need to have regular rest, sleep, and even vacation time – because it replenishes us for the future. I noticed this recently when burning the candle at both ends. When I just had a little time to myself, it made all the difference. If you are feeling like you do not want to do your job anymore, it is all the more critical for you to get some time away from your job, and replenish your body, mind and soul. Take some vacation time before throwing up your hands and giving up on your career. If you can’t get away from work for a week or more, at least try to make sure that your work hours are reasonable, and do not interfere with your home time.
Can you make things better in your current job?
You might be able to find a way to make the job you already have more palatable. Perhaps there is some way to make your job better. Perhaps you have a new idea on streamlining things, or an idea that could make you enjoy work more. Spending some time reading up on innovations in your business could give you some ideas to make your work a bit more interesting.
Do you get along with your boss?
Meredith Haberfeld, a career coach, says that getting along with your manager is one of the most important things when it comes to having happiness at your job. So make it a priority. If you do not get along with your manager, talk to him or her to try to work things out. Approach the situation as one in which you are not pointing fingers or complaining, but say that you want to make things better. You may be pleasantly surprised by what happens. If it does not work, at least you can say you tried.
Try to see what life is like at a different company.
Maybe the issue is not your career, but your current company. Before you feel that you must do a full career change, look into how life may be like if you worked for a different business. You may find that you are re-energized about your career by the change in scenery.
Start with another career now, but slowly.
Let’s suppose you have tried all of these career coach tips, and still want to leave your career behind. If you have a new career in mind, why not spend your spare time working on that, and building your career up, before leaving your current career. For example, if you are an insurance company employee who really wants to paint, then do your art part-time until you build up a career at it. Don’t simply leave your old career willy-nilly until you have a new one ready to go.