LIFE is filled with decisions, one of which is whether or not to switch one’s career. With recent statistics showing Jamaica’s unemployment rate at an all-time high of more than 16 per cent, this decision becomes a bit more complicated.

“In an economy like this, it really depends on your outlook. If the economy is down and jobs are hard to get, generally speaking, it might not be wise to lose your job. But then, look at it another way: you might be in a job in a down economy and they lay you off. At some point, either by your own election or by decisions being made for you without consultation, you might find yourself, having to be brave and having to say to yourself, what do I want for myself and what is the best way for me to get it,” said certified professional life and corporate coach Cheryll Messam from You In Mind Jamaica.com.

All things being equal, switching your career or job is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you are not feeling fulfilled in your present working environment, or feel your personality is best suited for something else, but the move cannot be ad hoc. For those who are contemplating whether to jump ship, Messam advises research and strategic plannning.

You might want to consider the following signs, which usually indicate it’s time to go:

1. Your job is becoming irrelevant — Based on local and international surveys, it’s obvious that your skills set might not be needed in another few years. “The question basically to ask is what is the longevity of the job that I am in, what does the trends say about the outlook for the job? Is it that it will continue to grow, or is it a dying field?” Messam said. Based on the answers to these questions, you might want to start working towards becoming qualified in another field.

2. Your talent is being undervalued — It’s hard to stay motivated when your supervisors don’t appreciate your worth or contribution to the job. However, you must value your talents and potential more than anyone else. If you find that you are not being encouraged to explore your talents at the workplace, then the decision is yours to go somewhere else where your talents are valued and appreciated.

3. There is a clash between your personality and your current career — Messam said a job might require working with people, with data or with tools. “And so if you took a job and didn’t know yourself, you could be a people person, but are in a job that is data-driven, and that is why you are uncomfortable,” she said. However, you might find yourself far more at peace when you are placed in a position that allows you to do something you love and not necessarily something you do to pay the bills.

4. You have no passion or purpose — The income you earn from a job is important, but so too is the feeling of well-being that you receive from knowing that you are fulfilling your purpose and doing something you are passionate about. If you are not excited about something, you won’t be able to do it as effectively as you should.

5. Your professional growth is stunted — You have served 15 years in one post and by the look of things, it seems you are going to be in that same spot for another 15. This might be because the organisational structure of the job you are in does not lend itself to upward mobility.

6. You are not sufficiently compensated — If based on industry standards you realise that you are not being adequately rewarded for your job, you might be justified in considering a career change. Compensation does not necessarily have to be monetary. It could include a promotion, a scholarship or other benefits.

“Sometimes we know what needs to be done and we know the how and the missing ingredient is the when. Do I do it today or do I do it tomorrow? That makes the difference,” Messam said. She points out that it’s up to an individual to decide whether he/she wants to be a victim of whatever is happening daily or it they want to live each day purposefully with a goal in mind.