Are You On The Right Career Path? 5 Questions To Ask Yourself

Choosing a career is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent one. In days gone by, it wasn’t uncommon for a person to stay in a job for their entire working life. Nowadays, it is relatively easy to make a complete career change – if you want to.

How do you know if the career you’re working towards is right for you? What if you land your dream job and it becomes a nightmare? Check out the five questions below to see if you’re on the path to satisfaction and happiness.

1. Are You Bored?

Every job has at least one or two more mundane tasks and most businesses will go through slow periods that can be less than enthralling, but if you’re finding most parts of your role or industry aren’t challenging you and you find most aspects of the work to be boring, it may be a sign that you’re not where you need to be.

2. Do You Care About What You Do?

If you find yourself constantly wishing you were somewhere else, on autopilot or your heart just isn’t in what you’re doing, it may be more than just a bad day and a signal to start looking for something else. Sometimes changing employers is enough to kick your passion back into overdrive, but this can also be a telling signal that you need more.

3. Do You Feel The Money And Benefits Aren’t Enough?

This isn’t about needing a raise or to tighten your household budget – sometimes, if a career really isn’t right for you, it doesn’t matter what you’re getting paid as the money or perks can’t make up for the dissatisfaction you’re feeling. If this is you, it may be time to do some soul searching to

4. What Do Other People Think?

Are your friends or family always telling you that you’re wasting away in your current profession or not making the most of your talents? If the important people in your life can see that there is something wrong, pay attention.

5. Do You Want To Do Something Else?

This may be the biggest indicator of them all – do you spend your time wishing that you had studied business instead of arts, journalism instead of psychology or thinking about another industry you’d rather be in than your current field? If another industry, field or job is on your mind, that’s probably where you’re going to be the most satisfied long term.

If you do find that you aren’t in the right career to help you hit your personal and professional goals, don’t make any rash decisions. Take charge by researching and identifying where you would like to be, as well as the steps that will get you there. For example, you could check out online courses provided by training organisations such as etrainu to see what new skills you can equip yourself with.

How did you know your career was right for you? Share your answer by commenting below.

Photo credits:  Stuart Miles -FreeDigitalPhotos.Net