It’s unreasonable to assume that you have landed in the correct career on your first attempt. In fact, it would be downright lucky if you had managed to do so. For most people, the process of finding a career that suits their interests and personality is a long journey that requires changing jobs multiple times. However, if you fail to spot the signs that you’re in the wrong career, you may end up staying in that job your whole life.

In the end, this may leave you jaded and wondering if everything you accomplished in your career was for nothing. This feeling can be horrible and can have negative effects on your mental health, so learning to notice the signs that you are in the wrong career is important to overcoming this hurdle. Never be afraid to change career paths if you spot any of the below signs.

You Complain Daily After Hours

There’s nothing wrong with complaining about your job and the tasks that you are assigned  occasionally. In fact, everyone complains about their career at some point, even people who love their job. However, if you find that you are complaining after work every day and your friends constantly point it out, it’s likely that you may have ended up in the wrong career.

Your friends know you best and if they point out your complaints, it should be a huge red flag. Take the time to look at what you are complaining about and see if it has anything to do with your career, or just your job. If it is only related to your job, then a simple job change may do the trick. Otherwise, it may be time to consider a new career path.

Take solace in the fact that there are online degree programs anyone can pursue in their free time. Picking one of these and finishing it while keeping your current job is the smartest option if you are considering a career change. One great skill you could consider picking up is coding. This field has been exploding lately and there are coding bootcamps available everywhere from Portland to New York. At the end of the day, choosing to remain in a career that leaves you complaining every day is your own choice. But if possible, take the opportunity to switch careers before it is too late.

A Lack of Focus at Work

Everyone has had the Monday blues at one point or another. Despite this, there should be aspects of your job that you enjoy, and a little boredom can actually be a good thing, as covered by Forbes. Using your boredom as motivation to tackle your job in a different way can even help you to grow.

However, if you feel unfocused every second of the day and you can’t even remember the last time your job left you feeling interested, it’s time to start looking into other options. Perhaps you need a career that suits your unique interests. To discover what may make you passionate, consider taking the time to do some self-reflection. 

Focus first on identifying your strengths and weaknesses. It helps to pretend that you are in a job interview and attempt to frame your answer to the question in a way that highlights who you are. The only way to discover what makes you passionate is to take the time and self-reflection needed to identify what resonates with you.

Another Path Interests You

One of the biggest signs that something is wrong with your career choice is if another job interests you more. Honestly, you may not even know what you want to do, but maybe you would rather be in any other job than the one you have now. If this is the case, it will do you good to launch a new career.

Whenever you are seriously considering a career change, it’s best to retain your current job as you search. You can only live on your savings for so long, so it helps to put a plan into motion before you actually provide your two-week notice. However, you should seriously consider changing careers when you spot these signs or even suspect that the path you are now on is wrong for you.

Conclusion

There’s absolutely no shame in ending up on the wrong career path. As mentioned, you certainly wouldn’t be the first person to end up in a job that isn’t right for you. With that in mind, don’t ignore the signs that are pointing to you being in the wrong career. Doing so may make you jaded with your job and the coworkers around you. Your career will make up a large portion of your life, and there is no reason to spend so much of that time hating what you do. Find your passion and pursue a career around it relentlessly until you land a job that makes you excited to wake up every single day.