The Mid-Career Pivot: Is It Right For You?
Since the pandemic, priorities shifted. People are looking for more. More pay. More connection. More purpose. More time. More freedom. And so on.
According to a Microsoft survey of over 30,000 employees from around the world, 41% of workers were considering quitting or changing their profession in 2021. That now has grown to over half of Gen Z and Millennial workers wanting to quit their jobs in 2023 according to a recent LinkedIn survey. Quitting in search of more.
With the hunt for more and the understanding that life is far too short to be stuck in a job you hate, you might be wondering if it’s time for you to make a change.
Here are my 10 signs that it might be time for a career pivot:
YOU DREAD GOING TO WORK EACH DAY
I get it, we all have those days when we don’t feel like going to work. Maybe it’s a gorgeous sunny day or fresh powder on the mountain. And those occasional feelings are completely valid and okay! Heck, I even have them and I LOVE WHAT I DO! But if you find yourself day after day after day with a feeling of dread, there is something wrong there and it might be a sign to look into a switch.
YOUR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH IS TAKING A TOLL
This one is a big one for me. Your health is non-negotiable and being misaligned or unhappy in your job can take a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health. This shows up as:
Anxiety and Depression
Low Motivation
Irritability
Low Creativity
Ulcers
Fatigue
Headaches
Weight Gain/Loss
Insomnia
And so much, much more
Don’t wait until you are so broken and beaten down to leave. If you are starting to feel like your health is degrading, it’s time to go.
YOUR WORKPLACE HAS A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT
Toxic environments can look like:
Lots of gossip
Unclear or constantly changing expectations
Lack of communication
Bad leadership
High-stress, or ultra-competitive environments
Unethical practices
Unhealthy work hours
And more!
There are so many reasons that an environment might be toxic or just simply not right for you. If you get that gut feeling that something isn’t right, trust it. Remember that there are so many companies that focus on cultivating a positive, healthy culture. You don’t have to be stuck where you are at.
THE COMPANY DOESN’T ALIGN WITH YOUR VALUES
Whether you realize it or not, values are in every area of your life. From money values to relationship values, we consciously (and unconsciously) assign value to certain things. Work is no different. You want to be able to connect and align with what you do. Maybe it’s finding work that is purpose-driven or challenging. Maybe you need high earnings or predictability. Whatever it may be, define what is important to you and find work (and a company) that aligns with that.
YOU ARE SO DRAINED THAT YOU DON’T HAVE ENERGY FOR ANYTHING ELSE IN YOUR LIFE
I had a job once that was so toxic and draining that by the time I got to my car to go home, I couldn’t stand even listening to music. I needed complete silence on the way home and then would crawl into bed as soon as I got home. The toxicity of the work environment drained everything out of me. My friendships struggled, I had zero social life, and my health was taking a toll. The moral of this story is that your job shouldn’t take away from your life as a whole, it should complement and fill it up. So if your job is draining you on the reg, time to find something else!
YOU ARE FEELING THAT YOUR WORK DOESN’T MATTER
There are people in the world who are okay with having a job that doesn’t matter. But I’m guessing that if you are still reading this you need work that you want to get behind and feel purposeful or that you are making an impact. This looks different for everyone but if you are not connecting to what you do, it can take a toll on you. Finding work that aligns with what you care about or that you feel good about can shift that happiness factor.
YOU ARE NOT ACTING LIKE YOURSELF (AND IT’S IMPACTING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS)
Maybe you are overreacting to things, underreacting, or not sure why are saying or doing things that are not the norm for you. Maybe you do not feel like you can show up as your true authentic self. And having this unhappiness plaguing your life can negatively impact your relationships. So if you notice or someone close to you tells you that you are not yourself, pay attention. This is a sign that there is a misalignment in an area of your life.
YOU CONSTANTLY FIND YOURSELF DREAMING OF SOMETHING MORE
Daydreaming is very normal and natural. I dream daily of laying on a beach in Hawaii, soaking up the sunshine, and reading a good, juicy book. But if you sit at work and constantly daydream about being anywhere but your desk, that’s a pretty good sign that something isn’t right.
YOU FEEL UNDERVALUED OR TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
Do you feel that you work your ass off and do a great job at your work but feel under-appreciated? Maybe it’s that your boss knows that you will always say yes and keep piling more and more on your plate. You bring so much value to what you do, and it deserves to be recognized and appreciated. So if you don’t feel like that, there are places that will see how awesome you are and pay you well to do it!
YOU DON’T SEE A CLEAR FUTURE THERE
This might look like no opportunities to continue to grow and expand your skills (with or without a title). Maybe it’s that there is no clear career path for you in the company and you feel that there is no internal support to help you. Taking to your manager is always the first step here but if you keep hitting blocks and are feeling stagnant, it’s a sign that you might need to consider leaving.
If one or more of these are resonating with you, it might be time. But, before you waltz into your boss's office and scream I QUIT! There are ways to go about making a change like this. First and foremost, is knowing what to do next and putting a thoughtful and strategic plan in place.
If you are ready to gain clarity on what your next career move looks like, let’s chat! Click here to schedule a time to learn more.