If You Didn’t Choose Your First Career, Don’t Be Afraid To Change It

When you’re growing up, you’re encouraged to pick a career. When real life hits, you might find that you have to start working in a field you don’t care much for. That may be a good sign that a career change is OK.

Photo by COD Newsroom.

Changing careers is not easy and usually involves some kind of pay cut while you work your way back up from the bottom. This can be a good reason to stick with what you’ve already been doing. However, as business blog Entrepreneur points out, if you didn’t choose your current career, there’s a decent chance you’d be happier doing something else:

There are a lot of reasons to take a job in a particular industry. If your reason had to do with desperation, a family connection or a random circumstance, you may need to switch careers soon. Think about your skills and what you truly enjoy. Don’t be afraid to consider off-beat careers either — being a forester isn’t as common as a banker, but it may be the perfect fit for you. You deserve a career you chose on purpose.

Of course, sometimes if you hate your job, it might just be your own negativity talking. If you chose your current career, there’s a decent chance that you at least enjoy the type of work you’re doing. However, if you had to choose a career out of necessity or expedience early on, your dissatisfaction with your job may be a good indicator that switching careers will be beneficial for you in the long run.

9 Reasons to Switch Careers as Soon as Possible [Entrepreneur]