Is there a dark cloud hanging over your cubicle? It could be time for a career change - before it's too late.
Do you leap out of bed every morning, eager to get to your job and put in a full day of work? Or do you feel a little more like a prisoner on death row?
The latter, of course, is a clear sign that it might be time to think about switching careers. But complete and utter burnout is not the only one. There are other, less dramatic, but equally important signs that your love affair with your job has ended. Everything from feeling you're in a dying industry to a change in your personality could be a sign to switch careers.
And it's important to pay attention to these signs, says Lisa Adams, a certified management coach and founder of Fresh Air Careers, which specializes in career advisement. "If a person doesn't pay attention, they could get laid off because they're not productive or have a bad attitude. Or they could become stuck in a career because they stayed too long and now can't change because of financial or family obligations," she says.
Don't let burnout cause you to be forced out. If any of these six common signs apply to you, it might be time to take things into your own hands and start prepping for a fresh new career.
Sign #1: Your Job Is Making You a Jerk
When you started your job you were the happy, healthy person who greeted people with a smile and an upbeat attitude. But lately, you've become more ill-tempered than a troll. Guess what? The right career change could turn that frown upside down again.
"I see this a lot with my clients," says Adams. "For instance, I had a client whose personality changed because he dreaded work so much that he went from a nice, outgoing, extroverted guy to being grumpy and mean all the time."
And becoming disgruntled could also affect more than the corners of your mouth, says Adams. "When the joy gets sucked out of your work, the stress and the pressures start to wear so heavily on you that your health starts to take a toll and your personality changes."
And remember, she says, people don't want to work with jerks - especially your boss. You need to find a way to breathe new excitement into your career or the decision to find a new one might be made for you.
Sign #2: You're Driving Loved Ones Crazy With Your Complaining
Okay, so you're not Mr. Grumpy at work, driving your coworkers batty with your venting. Why? Because you save it all for the dinner table. If you haven't figured it out already, constantly complaining to friends and family is a bad sign. In fact, this type of behavior could weigh so heavily on your personal relationships, it might lead to a career intervention.
Take it from Adams: "I've actually gotten clients because spouses called me and said, 'I can't take it anymore, my husband has to change jobs and find something that he really enjoys. I'm hiring you to help him find a new career.'" [Related: Six High-Paying Jobs on the Rise]
Debra Wheatman, president of Careers Done Write and certified professional career coach, says that complaining at home too much could do more damage than losing your job, it could affect your personal relationships.
"If you're complaining all the time - if you're grumpy, if you're unhappy, if all you do is have a negative outlook on your workplace, the workers, and the work you're doing - that will affect other parts of your life, so it's probably time to consider making a change," she says.
Sign #3: You're Thinking About Everything But Work
Is your butt in the office while your mind is anywhere but? We all know the feeling, but using your work computer as a good way to catch up on cat videos is a sign you've lost interest in your job. And Adams says if you're not careful, your work could soon lose interest in you. [Related: Seven Options If You Are Bored With Your Job]
"When you're having a hard time becoming productive at work because you're so distracted by other things that you're dreading everything, it becomes too much," says Adams. "Dreading meetings, dreading working on a project, dreading calling a customer and telling the same old story. The feeling of dread and being overwhelmed shuts people down."
Adams says people might find themselves in this situation because humans are good at slogging through, grinding each day out for a paycheck or just to be the good employee.
"But if you hang on too long, you become unproductive, and before you know it, you're being laid off," says Adams. Before it comes to that, it might be time to proactively change your situation, she says. Doing so could prevent a lot of stress and land you in a happier, more productive place.
Sign #4: Your Industry Is on Life Support
Horse-buggy maker. Monocle buffer. Quill sharpener. If you're getting signs that your industry or product is on its way to becoming a thing of the past, don't turn a blind eye. Do something about it.
"You can't stay in a work bubble," advises Adams. The most important thing to be in this day and age is flexible, staying up to date and being willing to adapt, she says.
"People definitely should be keeping track of their industry trends and changes so that they know whether the industry has long-term potential for them," says Wheatman. "There are certainly industries that are growing more than others and you'll want to make sure your industry has long-term potential." [Related: Dying Careers You Should Avoid]
For example, she says, take an objective look at whether your company is dynamic, proactive, and adapting to the world around it. Remember, that last buggy maker probably scoffed at Henry Ford - right before filing for bankruptcy.
Sign #5: You Don't Feel Like You Fit In
Whether it's in middle school, a party, or your company office, no one enjoys feeling like the odd man out. Because you spend so much time at work, you want your company and industry to reflect your personality, interests, and values.
"I call it the four Cs: the commute, the compensation, the colleagues, and the culture. That all plays into work environment and colleagues you want to work with. Culture can be so many things," says Adams.
For instance, do you want to work at a big company, a start-up, in a corporate environment, or a casual one? Are you more of a cutting edge, trendy person, or do you gravitate toward the traditional? "If the culture and type of people are not a good fit for you, you're going to hate it," says Adams.
And don't blame yourself, she says. "[A person] may have taken the job and thought it was a great fit, but they just read it wrong. Or, the company changes so much that it's a different company than when they started," she says. [Related: Top Careers for People Haters]
The important takeaway, says Adams, is not to keep pretending you're in the right place if it truly is wrong for you. That creates stress, low productivity, and ultimately unhappiness. And that's never a good fit.
Sign #6: You'd Rather Go to the Dentist Than to Your Job
We've all had that heavier-than-lead feeling in the morning. You know, those days when you'd rather get a root canal without anesthesia than clock in at the office. But if that feeling visits you five mornings a week, it may be a sign that something's gotta give.
"If you're not getting up every day invigorated to go to work and contribute to the environment you're in, then that's probably a sign it's time for a change," says Wheatman. "Often, instead of taking an honest, introspective look, people stick it out so long that they're miserable or not performing in a way that they should, or to their own expectations, or their coworkers'."
That's when trouble starts, says Adams. "Whether it's because they're Debbie Downer and not part of the team or because they're unproductive, their work will suffer and management or bosses will notice," says Adams.
Heeding the Signs*
Let's not end this on a Debbie Downer note. That would be so sign #1-ish of us. Instead, says Adams, remember that it is your career; you are in charge. You can change. It might mean starting small, taking incremental steps toward a new career. It could mean staying in your current position but changing how you go about it. The point is, if you are unhappy, do something about it. And be realistic.
One step might be going back to school for a certificate or degree in an area that interests you and has good job growth prospects for the future. If that sounds good, check out these five careers that the U.S. Department of Labor projects will have above-average (14 percent) growth from 2010 to 2020.
#1: Medical Assistant
Projected Growth 2010 to 2020: 31 percent, or 162,900 new jobs
Job Duties: Medical assistants provide support for medical facilities by executing administrative and clinical tasks, such as taking patient histories, scheduling appointments, and helping doctors with examinations.
Education Requirements: There are no formal education requirements for medical assistants; however, applicants from one- or two-year certificate or diploma programs may be preferred by employers.
#2: Software Developer
Projected Growth 2010 to 2020: 30 percent, or 270,900 new jobs
Job Duties: Software developers design computer programs and applications to meet customers' needs, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They also test this software to ensure it's functioning properly.
Education Requirements: According to the Department of Labor, these professionals usually have strong programming skills and a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field.
#3: Registered Nurse
Projected Growth 2010 to 2020: 26 percent, or 711,900 new jobs
Job Duties: Nurses care for patients by administering medicine, recording medical histories, and teaching them how to deal with illness and injury, among other responsibilities.
NEXT STEP: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Education Requirements: There are three common ways to prepare for a nursing career: an associate's degree in nursing (ADN); a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN); or a diploma from an approved nursing program. Nurses also must be licensed.
#4: Elementary School Teacher
Projected Growth 2010 to 2020: 17 percent, or 248,800 new jobs
Job Duties: Elementary school teachers plan lessons that help students learn basic subjects such as reading, science, and math. They also evaluate students on their strengths and weaknesses.
Education Requirements: To pursue a job in a public school, applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree in elementary education. They also need to have a certification or license issued by the state.
#5: Accountant
Projected Growth 2010 to 2020: 16 percent, or 190,700 new jobs
Job Duties: Accountants put together and analyze financial and tax documents. They help organizations manage their finances and make sure financial statements are correct and follow regulations.
NEXT STEP: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
Education Requirements: Most accountants need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
* All career information in this section - including job growth projections, job duties, and education requirements - is from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 edition.
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