People change careers for a variety of reasons. 

If you’re reading this, its possible that you’ve been considering whether you should change careers. Maybe your industry is becoming obsolete, or maybe the current climate makes it difficult for you to work full time. The pandemic has forced many of us to rethink how we do our jobs and has opened up opportunities for those who may want to pursue their passions or are simply ready for a change.

In this article we will look at five reasons why people choose to change careers.

Higher Salary and Better Benefits from Career Change

About 39% of the people who changed careers did so for a higher salary. A career change may be a good option that leads to a higher salary. The median pay raise when changing careers is between 3% and 5%.

While some people are willing to take on less pay for more happiness, others prefer to make as much money as possible. You may not need to take that pay cut if you change careers.

Poor Leadership Motivates People to Change Careers

Poor leadership can be a major reason for someone to look for a new job. If you don’t feel like your leadership is giving you the support and guidance that is needed, or if you don’t feel like they value what you’re doing at work, then this could be a sign that it’s time for a career change.

You may also want to consider changing careers if the culture of your workplace isn’t one that appeals to your interests, values, or personality type.

A Toxic Culture 

Your culture is the way you and your team work together, and its important to a healthy workplace. Sometimes new leadership brings in a different way of doing business. And you may no longer feel a kinship to the new direction.

The culture is toxic and unhealthy for everyone involved including the customers you serve.

This can happen when companies fail to address serious issues such as sexual harassment or discrimination based on race/gender/religion/etc. This can lead people who bring these concerns forward being ostracized by coworkers instead of being supported by them.

If you’re thinking of changing careers, consider what kind of culture you do want. How will your new job contribute to this? If its not right for you, don’t stay in your old role just because it pays well or helps advance your career. While these things are important, there are many other factors that should be considered when making decisions about your career path.

Changing Careers for Flexibility

Flexibility is important for many people. By being able to work from home, you can spend more time with your family and loved ones, or you could use the extra time to take classes or attend seminars that will help you grow in your career. I became a certified hypnotherapist when my job shifted to telework at the beginning of the pandemic.

However, flexibility can be a challenge in some jobs. So a career change may be the move you need to make to find a position that offers you flexibility.

You No Longer Believe in the Mission of Your Company

To be sure, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to leave a company. You may have a problem with their mission, values, leadership, or culture. These factors can impact your work environment and motivation as well.

The mission of the company doesn’t align with your values anymore. A less-than-ideal situation can occur if you continue working for company that has an excellent product, but which is not aligned with your own personal values. Increased stress, anxiety, dissatisfaction.

Career Change Because You Are Unhappy at Work

When you’re unhappy at work, it can seem like changing careers completely is your only option. Sometimes you’ve tried everything to you can do to improve your experience at work and make your current career more fulfilling. But it hasn’t worked.

If you’re thinking about making a major change, here are 5 things to consider before try before leaving your current job or switching industries entirely:

• Evaluate what makes you happy about your job.
• What parts of it leave you feeling fulfilled, energized and successful?
• Is there anything that brings you down? If so, how could these issues be addressed?
• Do they lie within yourself (e.g., a lack of self-confidence) or are they due to external factors (e.g., an unsupportive manager)?

Consider alternative approaches and solutions that might bring more happiness into each day at work even if these changes are minor ones rather than drastic ones like quitting completely or switching jobs altogether!

Conclusion

You probably spend more time at work than anywhere else. And if your job is making your life miserable, its worth looking for something better. But heres the thing: Finding the perfect career isn’t easy. In fact, it can be exhausting and frustrating. That said, we believe that everyone deserves to feel fulfilled by their careers.

If you’re looking to make a career change, that’s great! You have several options available to you. It should be an exciting time, but also a little intimidating. Figuring out where you want to go and how to get there can seem like a big undertaking at first glance.

I hope the advice I gave was helpful in starting your journey toward a new career or growing your current one. If it wasn’t, I would love to talk with you more about how I can help you reach your goals!

Schedule the 30-Minute Career Solution call with me today.

Twanna Carter, Ph.D., and as a career coach, I empower stressed, busy women leaders, who are tackling impostor syndrome, self-criticism, and doubt by helping them alleviate their stress so that they can find peace of mind while focusing on excelling in their careers.

Follow my social media here.

Recommended Books

1. Melaninated Magic: 180 Affirmations to Nurture Your Soul and Unleash Your Black Girl Joy by Twanna Carter, PhD
2. “I’m Not Yelling: A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace (Successful Black Business Women)“, Elizabeth Leiba.
3. “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High” by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler.
4. “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini.
5. “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.
6. “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” by Sheryl Sandberg.
7. “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown.
8. “The Memo“, by Minda Harts.
9. “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones“, by James Clear
10. “Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life“, by Jamie Kern Lima