Is it time to start researching graduate degree programs?
Changing your career, especially if you’ve been doing the same thing for several years, can seem scary and overwhelming. However, if you’re unhappy with the direction your life has taken, your top priority should be finding something you actually enjoy. You owe it to yourself to engage in some career exploration and find the right job for you. In many cases, this will involve the exciting prospect of learning new skills, potentially in a graduate degree program. If you can relate to these signs, it’s time to find a new direction for yourself career-wise.
1. Declining Productivity and Quality in Your Work
Early indications that you’re no longer engaged at your job often show up in the quality of your work. Maybe you’ve stopped paying attention to deadlines, take less pride in the quality of your performance or aren’t investing the effort and care you once put into your projects. If you notice your work ethic slipping and your interest level dropping, it’s time to take a step back and figure out why that is. It might not seem like a pandemic is the ideal time to completely change directions, but in many fields, there’s never been a better opportunity to enroll in a graduate degree program.
2. Dreading Going to Work
Everyone feels the urge to skip out of work now and then. However, a person who ultimately enjoys their job doesn’t feel like that every single day. If you find yourself constantly wishing you didn’t have to go to work, that could be a sign that your job isn’t what you should be doing for a career anymore.
3. Daydreaming About Other Jobs
This is one of the clearest signs that you’re already participating in career exploration. If you were content in your work, you wouldn’t be wondering what else is out there. You might not know precisely what job you’re thinking of, and may find yourself daydreaming about various aspects of what an ideal environment could look like. If you find yourself creating a new job in your head, it’s time to investigate other career options.
Finding a new career doesn’t have to be a spontaneous or impulsive decision. In fact, taking the time to think about your passions and plan out the route you’ll need to take in order to get there is much more productive.