How to know if you should look for a new job — or an entirely new career by Kate Ashford on Dec 29, 2017, 4:46 PM Advertisement
 After several years—or even a decade or two—in a particular field, you might feel that you're ready for something new. You're at the end of your rope and you need a change. But you may not need to start from scratch. "Sometimes people come to me and they say, 'I need a new career, I'm totally done," says Jessica Sweet, a career coach for mid-life professionals and executives at WishingWellCoach.com. "But it turns out they just need a new job. It's about defining the problem." Before you leap off the job cliff, ask yourself a few questions: SEE ALSO: 5 questions you should ask yourself before quitting your job If I could do this work in a different environment, would I enjoy it?  Take the time to notice whether you're unsatisfied because of the work you're doing—or because of where you're doing it. "I find that people are often just miserable in their situation, and they can't separate the work from the bad boss, the crummy commute, or the coworkers who are backstabbing," Sweet says. The verdict: If it's pretty clear that it's the people, places, or things—and not the actual work, it might be time for a new job, not necessarily a new career.
If tomorrow, I was told I couldn't work in my field anymore, how would I feel?  This question gets to the root of what you're passionate about. Do you feel a deep connection to what you're doing, or are you ready to break away? "Remind yourself how you ended up in your field to begin with," says Cynthia Pong, a coach and facilitator at Embrace Change Consulting in New York City. "Think back and write down your 'spark story'—the story of how you first got excited about the work that you do. If you were never excited about it, that is important to recognize." The verdict: If you were excited once, but now only feel dread, boredom or worse, it might be time to talk to a career coach about exploring new possibilities.
Do I know what my 'perfect promotion' would be?  Craft a job description that would make you thrive, what would it look like? Does the new description focus on your skills and talents that are currently being underutilized? "One of the best exercises I do with my clients, before they make any big decisions, is make sure we know what they truly want so we can determine whether that can be found at their current job, in their current industry, or somewhere completely different," says Kelsey Murphy, career strategist and founder of online work-life community Whiskey & Work. The verdict: Determining your future goals can help you see whether you're on the right path. It will make it clearer whether switching jobs can bring you satisfaction, or a career change is in your future.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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