Change is as good as a holiday

HOW many times have you been bailed up by a colleague at the office water fountain or the equivalent congregation spot to hear their sob story when it comes to hating their job or chosen career path? You know the story, they’re 40, have 20+ years of experience, are at the crossroads and don’t know what to do. Here are some tell-tale signs your colleague is burning out and it might be time to suggest to them a change.

1. They’re continually exhausted – most of us spend the majority of our waking hours working and if your colleague is prone to burning the candle at both ends and is suffering the consequences, perhaps a career shift is needed. 

2. Salary is no compensation – sure your colleague might be on a good wicket, but they’re bored and feel empty and it’s the money that is keeping them at their employer. Tell them to rethink their priorities and their eyes may just open up to change. 

3. When making the right choice is wrong – perhaps all the right choices they believed they were making were based around appeasing others. Time to have them focus more on pleasing themselves rather than others.  

If they’re prepared to listen to your sage advice and are willing to embrace change, they’ll be dusting off their CV in next to no time and embarking upon fresh, new opportunities.