The average individual can hope to change job careers almost once in his or her lifetime. One reason is that sometimes individuals do not make informed decisions when selecting an occupation. For instance, they neglect to do a self assessment that will assist them learn about their interests, work-related values, personality types, and aptitudes in order to find out what occupations are suitable based on those traits.

They also do little to explore the job careers they are considering and hence do not know as much as they should about them.

Making an informed decision regarding your career will surely increase the likelihood that you will be more satisfied with it, but even if you do everything right, there are no guarantees the career you select when just initiating out is the one you will need to remain in for the rest of your working life. That is, after all, a very long time. Changes in your life or the economy can all influence whether you will need to, or can, stay in the same career. At some point, you may find yourself wanting to, or needing to, follow another path. Here are some valid reasons to make this transition.

You Should Consider Job Careers Change If…

• Your Life Has Changed: When you selected your career back when you were in your early 20s, your life was probably different than it is today. For instance, you may have been single then, but have a family now. What seemed like an amusing career that required lots of travel and long hours, is no longer viable. It makes you long for more time at home, and that is what you should look for when you explore new careers.

• The Job Outlook For Your Career Field Has Become Poor: When you choose an occupation, one of the factors you should consider is its job outlook. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics assumes whether employment in an occupation will grow, decrease, or stay the same over a decade, based on current and forecasted economic and other factors. While the future might have looked promising for your field when you stepped into it, changes in technology, the economy, or the industry can impact it. Perhaps job opportunities are no longer plentiful, and when you research future predictions, you learn that conditions are going to continue to deteriorate. You should look for an occupation that has a better outlook.
• You Are facing Job Burnout: Even a career you once loved can wear you down. After years of being in the same occupation, you might start to experience job burnout. Before you do anything rash, you should try to figure out if you need a new job rather than a new career. Sometimes that solves the problem. If it doesn’t, it’s probably time for a bigger change. Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy going to work again?
• Your Job Careers are Too Stressful: Few occupations are inherently stressful. Learn about the stress engaged in the occupation you are considering and take that into account when you are picking a career. If you find yourself dealing with job stress that is too much for you to handle, it might be time to move on in order to preserve your mental and physical health.
• Your Work Bores You: Another factor to think about when selecting a career are the opportunities for advancement and your desire to climb the “corporate” ladder. Some individuals become bored if they’ve worked in their field for a while and haven’t been able to advance or if they’ve moved up as far as they can. If your career no longer challenges you, pursuing a different one can help revitalize your motivation.
• You Need to Earn More Money: When you compare job careers, you should think about compensation. While higher earnings will not necessarily lead to job satisfaction, you will need to be capable to make a decent living. Sometimes your requirements and wants change, and other times the typical earnings for an occupation changes. If you can’t make as much money as you would like in your current career, look for one that has higher earning potential. Just remember not to let your desire for higher earnings outweigh all the other factors that lead to job satisfaction.