As we grow in life, our work grows with us. In many areas, work never stays the same until we are cemented in a specific career. Work life and work experiences can be both good and bad. Some days you may hate your job and other days you can love your job. Most work is both. If you lean more toward hating or dreading your work, it could be time for a change. Change can mean growing and wanting different experiences. Changing jobs in pursuit of something better or something greater is common. Wanting change means you’re growing and it doesn’t mean the work you did was a waste of time or effort. If you find your heart is no longer in your job, that’s okay. Just make sure the change is simultaneously possible and realistic.
The best place to start a work change is with your current employer, especially if you love the company, but not your position or work duties. Ask for different duties, a job re-assignment, or work in a different department or section. Search for special projects or training courses designed to increase your knowledge and skills in other areas. Most companies offer free online and classroom courses. If you work in conjunction with a different team, but not necessarily the same duties, ask for additional duties to support the other team. Some managers allow junior employees to sit in meetings and panels without taking part in the discussions. Others will allow you to take classroom courses that require traveling to another state for days or weeks which offers great networking opportunities. If you ever wonder how projects are coordinated or new employees are selected, ask to sit in the project meetings or interviews as a non-participant and take notes. Seek out an internal job transfer if your employer has locations in different localities or states.
Part of growing in life is going through different experiences including at work. If you decide to move or change careers, that is normal behavior. Abnormal behavior is change without a realistic plan and without safety measures in place to support your change. Leaving your job without another position lined up is not normal change. Part of work is networking and building relationships. For some, relationships with co-workers or clients rate higher than the work we’ve outgrown. While having strong professional relationships with co-workers or clients is important, feeling the need to stay at a position because of the relationships you have is the wrong reason to stay. When you find you’re no longer committed or as passionate as you usually are, a change might be in order.