The average person will change jobs 12 times in their lifetimes.
The question is, when should you change jobs? And is there a specified amount of time you should stay at one?
The initial couple of jobs people take on, I see it as a test run. Often, you’re still figuring out what you actually like doing and dipping your toes in different roles. What you conceptualize in your mind as a dream job, might not be exactly what you thought it was going to be once you start doing the work.
There are many reasons why someone would want to change jobs. Boredom is a huge factor. You can only do so much within your job description, that after some time, it’s time to move on after you exhausted all you can for that role. Changing it up, learning new skills, and diving into a whole new industry is more exciting than performing the same routine tasks.
Financial compensation is another. Again, most jobs come with a salary cap. You might want to move into a larger company or a different industry that will pay you more. Living costs aren’t getting lower anytime soon.
Even with these valid reasons, why are people still adverse to changing careers? Simply put, they’re comfortable where they’re at. Their work, though boring, is not providing the level of discomfort that would force them to walk away.
This chunk of time between (when you start not looking forward to going to work) and (deciding to leave) is actually a great waste of time. Why? I know because I’ve been in the exact same situation, and more than once.
You’re clearly dissatisfied with your work, but instead of taking action, you keep dragging your feet for months on end. A time that can be utilized to search for better opportunities.
The Best Time to Change Jobs is When the Boredom Kicks In
Not every job is going to be the most interesting— we all need to pay the bills, so at times we really need to just buckle down and do it. However, this is just not the lifestyle I ascribe to anymore. If you’re bored at work, it probably means you’re not very engaged. If you can’t find ways to make work more engaging (ie. taking on larger projects or responsibilities), you’ll be best on your way to finding something else that will challenge you.
On average we spend the majority of our day at work. Isn’t it better to spend the majority of our day feeling purposeful, engaged, or creative than tap away at something we hate?
Not having enough experience is not an excuse until you actually went out and tried. More often than you think, there are employers that are willing to take a chance if you demonstrate your eagerness to learn quickly and hack at a new skill.
I’ve gotten jobs in marketing, bookkeeping, and journalism with no prior experience. These jobs had little to do with the degree I spent four years pursuing. Most of the time, I learned as I went, or supplemented with online resources. There’s so much opportunity to learn skills online that require little to no cost at all.
How Do I Distinguish Between Boredom and Laziness?
Here’s how I see it. After six months of working somewhere, you will get an idea (be honest with yourself here) of whether you see yourself continuing in this field.
“I got good to a certain point with X, but I was too lazy to become the best X ever. Maybe I’m just a quitter.
Incorrect. You identified early on that this is something you won’t pursue in the long term. Why would you concern yourself with becoming the best at something, that you’re not going to do in the future? You’re better off reserving that energy for something you’re actually passionate about and want to get good at.
Setting the Time to Do it
Make an exit plan. Start saving a little bit of money, so you have a cushion for the transition period. Or better yet, you can start looking for a different job in the meantime. I recommend having a little cushion because sometimes, it’s best to just have a clear break from work. Put 100% of your energy into reflecting and searching for new skillsets or opportunities. If you want to go into a whole other discipline that requires training, this will take time as well.
Fighting the Discomfort
Change is uncomfortable. I’ve stayed at some jobs for way longer than I’m proud of. I literally needed an extraneous situation like COVID to force me out of my hospitality job. In the one after, I had to give myself some extraneous reason to leave for good. I planned a month-long trip to Europe, and the week before I left would be my last week.
Sometimes we need something larger to push us out of our comfort zones. It requires us to have a little faith in the unknown, and that there will be greater opportunities for us out there.
Conclusion
I think of every career or job switch as the opportunity to grow beyond what you know now. Every experience is vital to determine whether you like or don’t like something, or whether you excel at something or not. If you find yourself in a place of stagnancy, make a plan to get yourself to a more elevated place. Your future self will thank you.
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