One does not change their career lightly. A career change is not the same as moving from job to job. One often changes jobs, but within the same career path. It is seldom that we make the jump to an entirely different path. There are good reasons for this. A career is more than a job. It is a category of work that becomes a big part of how we define our lives.
No one would define themselves as being a fast-food worker, although that might be what they do at the time. But a person would define themselves as a nurse, or medical support specialist. But sometimes, a career change is necessary. It is never easy, and we often resist doing it. Here are some tips to help you determine when it is the right time to make the jump:
You Want to Do Something That Matters
According to the Exigence Group:
If more nurses go into hospitalist medicine, patient-to-nurse ratios may decrease and consequently reduce the number of unneeded hospital visits by pediatric patients.
To me, that sounds like a very good reason to change from a meaningless job, to a career that makes a real difference in the world. Some surveys show that fewer kids aspire to be nurses when they grow up. If true, that could lead to a real crisis in health care. You can directly effect whether or not that crisis is averted.
All over the country, schools are responding to this need by offering accelerated programs to help jumpstart new nursing careers. GMercyU.edu’s accelerated nursing programs in PA offer programs to take RNs to the next level, and programs that facilitate a complete career change for those who have a bachelor’s in a different area.
This is not to say that there will not be a significant investment of time and money. But if you feel a strong calling to do something that matters to you and the world, there has never been a better time to make the leap. Accelerated career change programs are standing by.
You Want to Stop Doing Work That Matters
The call to do important and impactful work can be very strong. But equally strong is the call to stop doing such work. A 2014 study from Great Britain showed that 39% of work-related illnesses were due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. The leading stress-producing occupations over a three-year average were health professionals (in particular nurses), teaching and educational professionals, and health and social care associate professionals (in particular welfare and housing associate professionals). These are careers that matter. There are no careers that matter that don’t also produce high levels of stress, and stress-related illness.
Having your every move be a matter of life and death for the people in your care may be too much to ask of anyone over the longterm. Whether it be stress, or some other issue, when your job threatens your health, it is a good time to seek other opportunities.
You Are Bored to Tears
Some jobs are just painful to do, not because they cause physical discomfort, but because they are mind-numbingly dull. You might want to check out this list of the world’s most boring jobs to see if yours is on it. Grant it, even the most interesting jobs have dull moments, lots of them. But at the end of the day, you feel good about what you did. Truly boring jobs leave you feeling sorry you ever got out of bed.
If your job is too meaningless, or too stressful, or simply bores you to tears, it is definitely time for you to seek out another job. If you find yourself changing jobs frequently, it may be time for a whole new career.
Article Submitted By Derrick Manning (Community Writer).