by Christine L. Rice

Created on: February 03, 2009   Last Updated: April 29, 2011

Careers are an elaborate topic that require lots of decisions. Some people spend their entire lives searching for the perfect line of work. Others think work is supposed to be difficult and straining—that's why it's called "work" after all. So how do you know if you’re in the wrong career? There are three aspects of yourself to consider when deciding on your perfect career field: Your attitude, your motivation, and your interests.

When evaluating your attitude, think about your moods-not just during work, but also before and after.  Generally, are you  happy or cranky? How do you feel every morning when you think about going to work? What is your mood like during work? What kind of attitude do you have about your job? How do you feel after work? These are all important questions to reflect upon when trying to decide if you are in the wrong career.

Most people’s jobs affect their entire lives, and this is especially noticeable when it is an unfitting job. If your job makes you feel angry, depressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed for extended periods of time, you should probably look for another job. Your attitude portrays how you truly feel about your job, and it cannot be denied. If you frequently have a negative attitude, it is likely you are in the wrong career.

If your motivation at work is low, and your job duties do not appeal to you, then you are clearly not interested in what your job entails. This is a sure sign your career is not right for you. Since work affects home-life, having low motivation outside of work likely means your job is draining you. People who feel completely worn-out from their jobs do not enjoy what they do, because no one feels worn-out from doing things they enjoy. Therefore, a significant lack of motivation and energy deems an unfit career.

Your interests are the key to realizing how fitting—or not—your career is. Determine what you enjoy based on your hobbies and things you like in life. Say, you like the arts-such as painting, acting, and writing-but your job is in Finance. Evidently, you are going against the grain of your personality. If you are performing work that you wouldn’t choose to do in your spare time, then your job may not be a match for you.

Discovering your interests, and building upon them, is the first step to realizing what your fitting career field is. But first you must start by evaluating your attitude and level of motivation. It takes a little introspection and insight but it’s not too difficult. Pretty soon you’ll be on your way to finding the perfect career.

Learn more about this author, Christine L. Rice.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.