What to consider when reevaluating your career path
Mackenzie Waldron is a writer focused on ensuring workers have the information and resources they need to thrive. She explores topics that come up on Empower Work’s free, confidential text line and brings research-backed approaches to support you.
Have you ever looked around your work environment and thought, “Is this what I even want to be doing?” You’re not alone. Whether you have a job, are between jobs, or lost your job, it’s normal and very common to want to reevaluate your career path.
As one Empower Work help seeker shared:
“I feel unfulfilled by my day job…I have the thought in the back of my head that I should be doing something else.”
It’s completely normal to feel this way. The thought of redirecting the entire trajectory of your career can seem completely overwhelming, and there are many reasons as to why people even begin to reevaluate their careers. Before taking the plunge or making any decision, remember to take a deep breath, consider all your options, and ask yourself the hard questions.
Reevaluating your career?
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Reasons to reevaluate your career
There are many reasons as to why you might feel ready to reevaluate your career. Whether you just lost a job, are looking for work, or are currently employed, you probably have a reason as to why you want to shift gears.
You’re not satisfied with your salary. A common reason for reevaluating a career path is money—or lack thereof. You may not be satisfied with your salary now, and you don’t see yourself being able to make much more in your industry or role. This may cause you to feel stuck and want to jump to a different industry or role where you can make more money.
You’re feeling unfulfilled. Maybe your work is on the technical side, but you’re a creative person. Or maybe you started a job because it’s what you thought you wanted to do when you started your career, but now your goals and interests have changed. Or maybe you didn’t know what you wanted to do when you first started out, but now you have big career goals that don’t align with your current employment. Not feeling fulfilled in a job can be draining and cause you to lack motivation.
You’re not happy. Being excited about a job is a luxury that everybody deserves, but not everybody has. There are many things you can do to add excitement or ease to your day to day—taking your lunch outside, taking walks during your breaks, listening to your favorite music, etc. If you feel like you’ve tried everything and you’re still feeling unhappy at work, this may be your chance to reevaluate where you want to be.
Questions to ask yourself before redirecting your career
There are many steps you can take as you reevaluate your career path. The first step is to ask yourself the tough questions.
Am I qualified? If not, can I become qualified?
Knowing if you’re qualified for your goals is an important step to reevaluating your career. If you’re not sure, or if you don’t have the skills or certifications…become qualified! It’s never too late to take courses, expand your network, and develop new skills. This is where you’ll have to put in the time and effort. This could look like taking courses after work to obtain a certification, reaching out to contacts in your desired field for support, or researching the skills you need to achieve before applying.
Will I be financially stable?
Being happy and having a good quality of life is super important. It’s also important to feel financially secure. To some people, a higher salary is more important than feeling fulfilled at work. Other people leave their higher paying jobs for something that they’re happier doing but pays less. As long as you’re able to provide for yourself and your dependents (if any), it’s okay to want to be happy, even if you’re being paid a little bit of a lower salary. You just need to figure out what is most important to you.
Can I make my current situation better?
Of course, it’s hard to know whether or not you’ll be happier in a different career before getting there. Changing careers may feel like starting over, and in many ways, it is. It takes a lot of time and effort to shift gears in your career. Before making that jump, think of ways you can make your current situation better. Think about what’s really making you unhappy: is it your industry or is it your current workplace? Maybe try adding excitement or self-care to your day-to-day, talking to your boss about an issue you’ve been having at work, or even consider applying for other jobs within your industry. If you feel like you’ve tried everything and are still unhappy, then maybe it’s time to change careers.
Reach out if you need support with next steps
Realizing you may not want to be working in your current field can feel overwhelming. If you need support in asking yourself the tough questions and figuring out next steps, text 510-674-1414 for free, confidential support from a trained peer counselor.
How Can Empower Work Help?
Our text line is free, confidential, and provides non-legal support for a variety of workplace challenges, including bullying and discrimination. Our trained peer counselors act as a sounding board to help you reflect on your current situation and brainstorm the best action steps for you to help you move forward. Here's what to expect if you decide to text or chat online with an Empower Work peer counselor:
We listen. We ask what’s going on, how it’s impacting you, and what’s at stake.
We help you identify what you want. We help you look at your options, figure out what’s within your control, and get unstuck.
We make an action plan. We brainstorm next steps together and help you identify specific actions you can take.
If you're ready to chat with a counselor, text us at 510-674-1414.
*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.