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Letâs be honest, if youâre reading this article, a part of you is flaunting with the idea of a career change, but sometimes itâs difficult to see from the inside that weâre caught in the wrong profession and the time for a switch is now. Fit Futures Academyâs National Recruitment Manager Zara Robson highlights some of the recognisable signs that indicate you need to start exploring other career options now.
It was 10 years ago, when I relocated to New Zealand from the UK, that I realised I was due for a career change. I had worked in hospitality as a chef before moving into management of bars and restaurants. It was during that time I began to feel unfulfilled. An accumulation of work moments highlighted that I needed to feel like I was having a positive impact on peopleâs lives; the health and fitness industry seemed like the best way to go. I havenât looked back since.
- Youâre coasting and feel like you can do your job with your eyes closed
There are certain comforts of feeling competent and in control, but most people only enjoy this for a short amount of time. As human beings we are energised by challenge and learning, so if you have neither in your current role then it will only be a matter of time until you resent what you do.
Your options are to speak up and ask for something more testing at work or find your next challenge somewhere else.
- Youâre bored and lacking energy
Boredom is the consequence of coasting and disengagement, and will have an impact on your life outside of work. Boredom (are you cruising stuff.co.nz or taking Buzzfeed quizzes?) at work takes the joy out of other things. If you find youâre avoiding catching up with friends and family or going to the gym (or other things you usually enjoy), because âyouâre too tiredâ or âdonât see the pointâ itâs time to shake up your work routine.
- You donât look forward to Mondays (or any day)
Hereâs some eye-opening figures. If you donât take any annual leave (and donât include public holidays), you spend 2,080 hours every year at work (around 50% of the hours we spend awake). Thatâs too long to not find enjoyment at work.
The bottom line is, if you consistently feel that âdreadâ on a Sunday night as you prepare for a Monday at work, start asking yourself âwhyâ and âwhat can I do about it?â
- You clock watch and wonât invest any extra minutes into your role
Have you reached the stage where you know the true value of a minute? Are you packed up and ready to go as soon as the clock ticks 5pm or 5.30pm? In my experience, losing track of time seems to be a reliable indicator that youâre enjoying what youâre doing. As I said above, 2,080 hours are spent at work (40 hours per week) â this will feel more like 80 hours if youâre watching every minute tick by. Clock watching is a sure-fire way to identify boredom and again that youâre in cruise mode.
- You donât care
Apathy is a big red flag when it comes to your work life. If you find you donât really care about the work youâre doing or the success of the business for which you work, itâs time for a change. Many of our current students have found that apathy has been a catalyst for their change in career â especially as for many of them their motivation to become Personal Trainers is to help others enjoy health and fitness, realise their potential and achieve their goals. Basically, they are desperate to do something about which they care.
- You feel stuck
Not feeling in control of our own progression can make us feel redundant and stuck in a rut. Maybe your salary hasnât increased in a while, or youâve had 1-2% a year for as long as you can remember. Alongside that, youâve stopped learning and you canât see what your next step is, perhaps there isnât a next step at your company. In my experience, talking with students recently, it was the control they could get from being a Personal Trainer that really appealed to them â they can decide who they work for/with, when and where; their money is their own and their self-development is in their own hands.
- Your work doesnât make you glow
An enjoyable and healthy work life has a positive impact on your life â you should feel confident, enthusiastic and empowered. Does your current employer and role suit your values? Does it make you feel fulfilled? Can you be yourself? Our graduates who go on to work as contractors for gyms regularly report that they enjoy being their own boss, building their own brand and being true to themselves.
- Youâre feeling jealous â and itâs not your best colour
Jealousy doesnât look good on anyone, and it doesnât feel good either. Do you find youâre often thinking about a friend and/or family member and feeling envious of their career path or job? Are they glowing when they talk about work? Put a stop to this by exploring what it is (and why) you feel jealous of them. Is it the role they do or how they feel about that role? Start exploring what it is that makes them feel so good about their position.
- Your current workplace culture isnât for you
If weâre at work for more than 2,000 hours a year, then the workplace culture is key to our satisfaction and enjoyment. If you feel mistrust for your organisation, itâs difficult to muster motivation. Know there are other options out there for you that might better suit your family, lifestyle, values and goals; you just need to consider what you want in an employer and go looking for it.
- Every year blends into the next
If each day, week, month and year blur into one, without any standout moments, it could be a sign youâre stuck on the hamster wheel. If this sounds like your life, you probably feel like youâre not fulfilling your purpose. Start by setting new or existing goals (make sure they are SMART â specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timed) and then begin mapping out a pathway for how to get there.
If any (or all) of the above apply to you, donât suffer in silence. Talk to a professional about career options that could be open to you. If you feel as though you need a change and would consider a career in the health and fitness industry, and would like to become a personal trainer, contact Fit Futures at info@fitfutures.co.nz or 0800 99 88 98. Our flexible courses allow you to get certified in your own time without leaving your current role.
- Zara Robson is the National Recruitment Manager of Fit Futures Learning Institute, which offers people a flexible online and face to face evening class options to achieve their Certificate in Personal Training. She transitioned from an unfulfilling job in hospitality to a rewarding career in the health and fitness industry. She is a qualified Personal Trainer, experienced gym manager, facility owner and now a leader in the exercise education realm. She says transitioning to this industry has sparked a drive she hadnât experienced anywhere else.