Three signs your career isn't right for you

By Artur Meyster

When it comes to landing a career, everybody hopes to find an option that can make them feel fulfilled and happy whenever they drive into work. For the most part, however, the careers people end up in are not what they envisioned, and this can be a disheartening experience.

You may never find a career that fills your heart with passion, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a path that brings you no joy or fulfillment whatsoever. It is important to stay vigilant to the signs that your career is not right for you, otherwise, you risk feeling more stressed and going through years of boredom brought on by a bad career match. 

#1 Money Is Your Motivating Factor

There’s nothing wrong with working to get a fair paycheck. Even people whose job is their passion need a paycheck to survive. However, if money is the only reason you drive to work in the morning, then it is best to look for another career. 

If money is truly an important factor in a happy career, there are a number of emerging tech careers that can provide such a lucrative salary. One of the more basic tech jobs that exist today is programming or coding. A programmer’s salary can be as high as $85,000 if they are experienced, which is a very respectable salary.

Most tech-based jobs have the same, if not far higher salary levels, and provide variability with their work. Working simply for money should never be the sole reason for your career choice, but there are interesting career paths that offer high salaries which may be worth pursuing.

#2 Your Career Is a Dying Field

Even if you are in love with your job, being in a dying field means it will only be temporary. If you hate your job and it is in a dying field, that is double the reason to change your career path. A number of jobs are going to be displaced due to automation from technology. Truthfully, the jobs that are being automated are what many consider to be boring job paths.

Certain areas of accounting and finance are great examples of ways technology is automating tasks. These job paths are being replaced by professionals becoming front end developers who can focus more on building websites for companies and increasing online business rather than be distracted by tasks machine learning could accomplish faster.

It can be disheartening to admit to yourself that the field you’re in is a dying field. With that said, it is important to do career research so that you can have options to jump ship from your sinking field if it comes down to it.

#3 The Job You Hold Doesn't Use Your Strengths

One of the largest indicators that your career is not for you and that you should switch careers is if your skills and strengths are not being utilized. It’s important to self-reflect and to figure out what your strengths, as well as weaknesses, are so that you can determine if your career is properly challenging you.

Your work shouldn’t be too difficult to complete, but it should push you to use all of your available skills. Growing in your career can only happen if you are in the midst of dynamic work that forces you to expand your comfort level and abilities.

If you are in a career that under-utilizes your skills or strengths, consider looking for a new path. Online degrees are available to anyone who makes the choice to switch up their education and can help you to gain the skills necessary to launch a new career.

Conclusion

Your career should not be something that is settled on. Whether you are young or old, it is never too late to switch up your career and pursue a new path. Refusing to change careers when you are aware that it is a bad match can lead you down a less happy road and cause chronic boredom at work that will lead to burnout. Follow your passions and attempt to get into a career that can spur excitement in you and make you feel eager to head to the office each day.