Are you thinking of changing careers? Well, you're not alone! It is relatively common to find people who decide to change their professional course and who do so. Find out if it's time.

For some people it is a process that involves some anxiety, because they feel that they are deviating from a path that they seemed to be tracing and/or for fear that such a change will be misinterpreted by the market/recruiters.

In fact, in most cases, these changes don't have to be that painful and, if motivated by the right reasons, can lead to moments of greater fulfillment and satisfaction.

And what reasons can these be, then?

1. Doesn't feel happy

Over the years, several studies have indicated the correlation between job satisfaction and life satisfaction. So, if you are not happy, one of the contexts you should analyze is your work. Often, the work environment, the pressure to which you feel subject, the relationship with your boss, condition your well-being, it is important to be aware of how these variables can affect and condition the remaining dimensions of your life.

2. Don't feel in love

Did you love being a chef and work in an accounting department? Is your dream to work in Human Resources and are you in a Tax department? In general, we are conditioned to choose a professional career from a practical and realistic perspective, one that among the possibilities will give more perspectives for the future and guarantee greater stability. However, this conditioning can lead to mismatched choices of what each person's passions are.

3. Mismatch of potential/skills

Each person has unique characteristics, "powers" that applied to the professional context maximize their performance. The first years of professional experience are decisive for self-knowledge at this level. The “powers” of each one are typically characteristics that lead to the execution of a task more naturally and with greater ease, taking more advantage of the moment and, simultaneously, satisfaction/feeling of accomplishment. Sometimes this does not happen, which can lead to the perception of a continued underutilization of their abilities (for example: "I am a person with an eminently opearational aspect and who appreciates the field work, but I feel frustated, because I am delegated tasks of a more conceptual nature and/or backoffice").
 

4. Needs a new professional challenge

The beginning of a new project is, in general, exciting, due to the feeling of newness, the discomfort of being something new and having to put yourself to the test. However, often, afterwards, after the enthusiasm phase, the sensation of "cruising speed" appears. The moment when the person can be exposed to this sensation varies a lot, but it can clearly condition his motivation in the function. It is up to you to signal this discomfort to your boss and the company, but it is also up to them to provide you with new opportunities. Unfortunately, this is not always possible and, at times, the need for this new challenge may no longer take place in its current context. Cycles close, which may no longer have space in a given context and it is worth reflecting and acting on it!

5. Your values have changed

The professional path of each person is accompanied by changes at all levels. Motherhood/paternity, the reinforcement of the map of values and beliefs, the combination of the various life experiences, can condition what each person gives priority to, what is most important to them. One of the most frequent dilemmas that is currently experienced is related to the duality of financial stability vs time for personal life, leading some people to look for alternative forms of work (part-time, freelancer, remote work, etc.). Additionally, and often, this change in values, beliefs and/or priorities can also lead to a feeling of misalignment in relation to the professional context in which it operates, lack of identification with the culture and or less framing with the sense of purpose of the function/context.

In short, there are several reasons that can underlie a career change. The essential thing is to be attentive to the signs and consider the urgency of taking the first step in this direction. The secret lies in the balance between good reflection and the courage to take the “leap”.