What makes a career the "wrong" one is not always low pay, long hours or both. It's the dissatisfaction you face from Monday to Friday every week. It's the realization that the bundles of cash rolling in aren't making up for the sacrifices you chose to make. Business is built within the ladder system of each person reporting to someone else. Because of this, it's easy to listen to many people above you who claim to have the answers for your career. Recognize who is calling the shots before you're going through the motions of a job you hate.
Step 1
Analyze career growth vs. job enjoyment. You might be great at what you do and you might be ready to take on more responsibility, but do not advance further for the sake of the company. Remember that sometimes moving up is worse for you than moving out. In a job you love, you will be pushing for a promotion instead of others pushing you into the role.
Step 2
Explain your concerns to your manager. This is an excellent litmus test of whether you are on the right career path. An indication of the right career path is if the manager sits down with you to address the issue. If he chastises you for bringing it up, you may be in the wrong work environment. Make it clear that you aren't complaining; you're just uncertain.
Step 3
Assess your daily energy levels. Getting through the day shouldn't require coffee or stimulants. The right career fuels you and won't feel like an energy draining chore, according to "Bloomberg BusinessWeek." Caffeine addiction is a possible sign that motivational and social needs aren't being met at the workplace.
Step 4
Take a self assessment test. Ira Wolfe, founder of Success Performance Solutions, views them as a necessity because they help others recognize their emotional factors, such as communication style. Within a career, different roles exist. Knowing your skill set allows you to be a specific weapon to the company instead of a generic role player.
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