Time to Find Your True Calling
Do you dread going to work every day? Even if most of us would like to strike gold with the lottery and never have to go to work again, that's unlikely to happen. But there's a difference between tolerating your job and absolutely hating it with your whole being. If that sounds like you, keep reading. Here are 10 signs that you're in the wrong career—and 10 ways to discover a better passion.
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1. You Dread Waking Up in the Morning
While you might dread waking up for work no matter what job you hold, if you're in the wrong career, you probably wouldn't mind staying in bed all day and phoning in sick for a week straight. At this point, you probably won't even mind if you were fired.
2. You Get the Sunday Scaries
Again, we all get the Sunday scaries—the anxious feeling of heading back to work after the weekend. But if that feeling is amplified tenfold for your current job, then it's likely a sign that you're unhappy and in the wrong career.
3. You're Unmotivated and Uninspired
This goes without saying: if you lack inspiration and motivation in your current line of work, you're on the wrong path. Sometimes, you don't realize this until later; you might be in your career for a decade (or longer) before you notice the signs.
4. Your Job Sucks the Enjoyment Out of Everything
It's not enough that your job or career makes you feel miserable when you're on the clock—it makes you feel miserable even during your days off. This is more than just the Sunday scaries; this is feeling that same sense of dread every day, and not even doing the activities you love makes you feel any better.
5. You Can't Relate to Your Coworkers
Maybe you have some friends at work, but when they're all talking about career advancements and sharing goals, you can't relate to them. This makes conversations with them dull and boring—especially when that's all they talk about.
6. You Daydream About Different Paths
If you're constantly daydreaming about what other career paths you could take or could've taken, that's another clear sign that you're not in the right career. Even if your current job has good benefits and a salary that meets your needs, if you don't feel fulfilled, it might be a sign to move on.
7. Your Mental & Physical Health is Suffering
When your job and career start affecting your mental and physical health, it's time to re-evaluate what to do moving forward. Ask yourself if it's worth the sacrifice. Even if your life seems perfect on the outside—you have the best job and you've hit most of your career goals—your mental and physical health should always come first.
8. You Have No Time for Hobbies
When your hobbies give you enjoyment but your career gives you no time at all to engage in them anymore, then you should again ask yourself if that's something worth sacrificing for you. Chances are it's not, because if your job isn't making you happy and you don't have time for your other passions, then what's the point?
9. You're Constantly Looking On Job Boards
If you find yourself spending all your time looking at job boards and (secretly) interviewing with other companies during your designated work time, then that's another obvious sign that you're looking for a way out. Just don't make the same mistake and search for similar positions or you might end up hating your next job, too.
10. You Clock Out Right on the Dot
Ah, nothing screams "I don't want to be here" than clocking out right when the time strikes five. It doesn't matter if you have a meeting with someone in a different time zone—you refuse to stay overtime or work outside the usual nine-to-five.
But now that you recognize the signs that you might be in the wrong career, how do you go about finding a better passion? Read on for 10 ways.
1. Start a Side Hustle
If you're still in the process of changing careers, start a side hustle first. It might lead you to different discoveries and will give you more leeway to try something new since you're still employed. Who knows? Even if the side hustle is something completely random, it could turn into your true passion.
2. Make Your Hobby Into a Career
Do you like painting? Writing? Making really cool PowerPoint presentations? Crafting crochet keychains? Whatever your hobby, why not make it into a career? Building off the last point, you can start by making your hobby a side hustle first to "test" it out. If it does well, then see if you're ready to move forward making this your new career.
3. Go Back to School
Some subjects and specialties require you to go back to school and get certification. If you feel like you're too "old" to be going back to school for extra education, think again. Nowadays, more people of all ages are going back to the classroom. If it's worth the time and effort for you, go for it.
4. Take a Career Gap
If you're not quite ready to switch careers or you're unsure of which path to take, try taking a career gap. Sure, some employers may ask you about this no-work period on your resume, but don't be afraid to come clean and be honest. It's completely fine to want to take some time off to re-evaluate your view and goals before you make an important decision.
5. Network, Network, Network
Networking and making new connections is an absolute must; this is especially crucial if you want to get your foot in the door in a career you don't yet have experience in. Follow the job boards of companies you want to work for, then reach out to some people who are employed there. If you market yourself well enough, they may eventually want to hire you.
6. Learn New Skills Online
Sometimes, you don't have to go back to school full-time—just taking short courses online can do the trick. For example, if you want to learn about SEO (search engine optimization) or a new programming language, there are plenty of resources and classes on the web that can help you get started.
7. Ask Your Friends & Family
Before you network by reaching out to strangers, you may also want to try asking your friends and family first. After all, you already have a closer connection to them and they may be able to refer you to the companies they're working in. If the career and job position fits, then it's an easy way in!
8. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
As you try to discover what other career paths you could take, don't be afraid to challenge yourself. Step outside your comfort zone. For example, maybe you've always wanted to learn coding but never had the chance or you just didn't think you'd be good at it. But don't underestimate your abilities. Try it out—you could have a knack for it.
9. Move to Somewhere with Better Opportunities
If there aren't many job or career opportunities where you currently live, don't confine yourself to one place. You can search for remote positions, or if your circumstances allow for it, move to a different, bigger city. Your passion is out there; you just have to be proactive and get it.
10. Don't Settle
If you've decided you want to head down a different career path, don't just settle for anything else; you don't want to make the same mistake. Network, reach out, ask around, do some research, and figure out what you really want to pursue before you go for it.
