Sometimes the need for a career change is obvious. Your health breaks down. The industry dissipates. Your job is undeniably miserable.

Sometimes the need for a change is not so obvious, which is why so many people stuck in the wrong jobs stay in them for years and years, sometimes until retirement.

I have a friend named Lisa who has worked as a bank teller for the past five years. She enjoys the work, but admits that during the past couple of years, shes felt restless and bored. At first she thought it was a phase. But this feeling of disenchantment hasnt gone away, and in fact, its getting worse.

When I suggested that it might be time for a change, she brushed off the suggestion. For one thing, Lisa wasnt particularly skilled at anything else. She was good at her job, and didnt want to go off and be mediocre at something else. Besides, nothing else she could do would pay any better. And finally, waltzing off the job in search of another was immature and reckless. The mature, sensible course of action was to stick it out. Maybe things would get better.

Or would they?

Maybe it was time for Lisa to reconsider her whole notion of herself and her worklife. For Lisa, a job was just a fact of life, like having to brush her teeth or pay her bills. Sure, it would be a bonus if work were actually pleasant, but that certainly wasnt part of the criteria. As long as she was treated fairly and the work wasnt harmful, Lisa felt it was just plain foolishness to wish for anything better.

However, Lisa did confess that there were some facets of her job that were starting to annoy her more and more. The zero tolerance for error was tiresome, even though she understood that it was necessary in her position. She was also frustrated because she had brought some ideas to her boss, ideas that would improve customer service and save all of the tellers a good deal of time and energy, but her boss had pretty much told her that they werent looking to the tellers for ideas.

Perhaps youre in the same situation as Lisa. Many people are. I was, once. And it eventually wears a person out. It takes energy to force a good attitude day in and day out when your heart just isnt in it. Its even harder to sink into a bad attitude and have to struggle every day just getting out of bed, knowing that another tiresome day is in front of you.

What makes it especially difficult is that you might think you have no right to feel this way. After all, you should be grateful you have a job, right? And wouldnt it be easier to just learn to accept your current place in life than have to struggle for something better, especially when that something better isnt guaranteed?

To help address those questions, here are some signs that its probably in your best interest to consider a career change:

- Little annoyances at work are now, for you, big annoyances. The annoyances themselves havent changed, but you find them increasingly intolerable.

- You feel underpaid and undervalued.

- Your job is not in alignment with your personal values.

- Youre disappointed with yourself. You had much greater dreams for yourself when you were younger.

Certainly you have a hundred and one reasons why a career change, or even just a job change, isnt practical or possible. However, if any of the four points listed above resonate with you, do yourself a favor and consider the idea.

You might ask how on earth a career change is possible. Perhaps you dont even know what youd rather be doing instead of what youre doing now. You may not have the time or money to go back to school or investigate other career options.

The resources are out there. Go to any search engine and type Career change and a cornucopia of resources will appear. Visit the library and check out the career section. Assure yourself that you can take your time, do the research, and not rush into anything foolhardy.

True foolhardiness would be to squander away the years working in a job that doesnt fulfill you.

By the way, Lisa is in her second year at university now. Shes majoring in Social Work.