When is the best time to make a career change?
Deciding to make a career change can feel like standing at a crossroads. It is exciting, full of possibility, and often uncertain. As a career coach who helps driven professionals navigate major transitions, I am often asked the same question: “When is the best time to make a career change?”
When I decided to leave law, I waited until I was utterly exhausted (due to caring for ill parents and also realising I had outgrown the job). I quit with no plan because I couldn’t keep going any longer and I don’t recommend reaching that point. Now I help people on both sides of that journey: those who plan their next step thoughtfully, and those who are simply too drained to keep pushing through.
The truth is that there is rarely a perfect moment. However, there are clear signs and circumstances that can make now the right time if you know what to look for.
1. When Your Work No Longer Aligns With Your Values
One of the strongest signs that it is time to change direction is when your job no longer feels meaningful. Perhaps your priorities have shifted or you want more enjoyment, purpose and impact. A career coach can help you identify what matters most and find new roles or industries that reflect who you are now.
2. When You Have Stopped Learning or Growing
Personal and professional growth are essential for long-term fulfilment. If you have mastered your current role and see no room for development, your motivation can fade. A career change coach can help you recognise your transferable skills and explore new paths where you can continue to learn and expand your potential.
3. When Burnout Becomes Normal
Constant stress, fatigue, or a sense of dread before the work week are strong indicators that something needs to change. Sometimes it is not the work itself but the environment. In other cases, a deeper shift may be needed. Working with a career coach can help you distinguish between temporary exhaustion and the need for a true career change.
4. When Your Career No Longer Fits Your Life
Life evolves, and your career should evolve with it. Major changes such as becoming a parent, moving to a new city, or rethinking your priorities can all influence what you need from work. If your current role no longer supports your wellbeing or lifestyle, it may be time to consider a new direction. A career change coach can help you design a path that reflects your current stage of life.
5. When the Desire for Change Keeps Returning
Even when the timing feels inconvenient, a recurring desire to change careers should not be ignored. It is your intuition telling you that something better may be waiting. Perhaps you have a desire that there is something more you want to be known for or want to create or contribute to the world. You do not have to quit right away, but you can start exploring options, building new skills, and testing ideas now. The best time to begin is often when the thought of change will not leave you alone.
6. When you realise the job was never right for you in the first place
Sometimes the clearest insight comes in hindsight. You may look back and realise that the role, or even the entire profession, was never a true fit for your personality, values, or strengths. Perhaps you chose it for security, expectation, or because it seemed like the “sensible” path at the time and you were quite good at it too! Recognising that it was never right for you is not a failure, it is valuable self-awareness. A career coach can help you unpack what drew you to that choice, what you’ve learned from it, and how to build a career that finally feels authentic.
Making the Leap With Support
A successful career change requires both strategy and self-awareness. It takes reflection, planning, and confidence to move from uncertainty to action. That is where working with a career coach can make a real difference. Together you can clarify your goals, create a plan, and move toward a career that feels both fulfilling and sustainable.
Final Thought
There is no universal right time to make a career change, but there is a right time for you. If you are reading this and feeling that pull toward something different, take it as a sign to explore what comes next. Whether you are ready to leap or simply to learn, guidance from a professional career change coach can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Ask yourself: what would your future self, two years from now, be glad you started today? Many people worry that they have left it too late, but I have worked with clients of all ages - even in their 60s and 70s who have made remarkable changes to their lives. Countless others have successfully changed careers in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. It is never too late to create a working life that feels right for you.
Interested in finding your best next step?
Book a free call to explore how coaching can support your career change journey.
By Rachel Grace Elliott, Career Change Coach