At Ironhack, we have met many people that have been “stuck” in life trying to navigate their career. The truth is, it’s not easy to do it alone. The great thing about tech is that it doesn't matter what your background is. In our classes, we’ve seen anyone from hospitality workers and gig workers to computer science majors join Ironhack and succeed. If you think you’re in need of a career boost or career change, here are five ways for you to know that it’s time for a new career.
1) You don’t feel challenged
You are no longer learning and growing as a person and employee. Projects feel stale. It gets increasingly harder to get out of bed and go to your job. You are bored and energy depleted. No one expects to be fascinated at work all day everyday, but when you find your job or company boring on a regular basis, then it’s time for a change.
2) You’re only there for the money
Having enough to live on is very important, but earning lots of money in a job that does not make you happy is not worth the pay-off. While financial stability is an important factor, at the end of the day, it won’t completely fulfil you. You feel disengaged from your work, and the only reason you haven’t left your job is because you get paid “enough.”
3) You don’t feel important
You may be functioning perfectly well at your job but you lack the desire to suggest new ideas or innovate at your company. Perhaps your suggestions have been ignored before or you are lacking the right environment to propose suggestions... You may not be the CEO, but you should feel valued. Not every project you work on will be revered, but are you receiving constructive criticism or just plain criticism? It’s easy to feel apathetic about your quality of work if you aren’t being treated like a valued member of the team.
4) Your values are suppressed
What is most important to you? What are your core values? Are any of these values shared by your current company? If not, it may be time for a change. We are all imperfect, but, as humans, we crave connection. Do your peers share some of your same values? Do you feel you work in a collaborative environment, or are your ideas frequently suppressed?
5) You made it through this list
Chances are, if you are even reading this article, you are thinking about making a switch. Do you want to live in fear and doubt, or do you want to do something about it? Trust your instincts. Be bold. You can do it!
We get it, changing careers and investing in yourself is a big commitment… but you don’t need to do it alone. If any of these sound like you or you’re still confused about which career path is for you, let’s talk!
