You may be looking for a whole new career, but there are other reasons to do a self-assessment. There are lots of ways that you can improve your career without changing it completely. Put a check next to any of the following that describe you.

You're burned out. That fire you exhibited for your job years ago is now little more than an ember. You gave it your all for as long as you could, and now, although you still like your career field, your current situation feels more like a treadmill than a career.

Your job is hazardous to your health. Some jobs are dangerous, and if you're in one that is, you probably knew that when you signed on. Some jobs can affect your health in other ways, such as by being too stressful or emotionally draining, and those are things you may not have known when you took it.

You want to specialize. You're in a career you love, but you want to focus on one specific aspect of it.

You're bored. By midafternoon, you're watching the clock. You miss the intellectual challenge that you used to find in your work and are now just going through the motions.

You want more autonomy. You are quite happy working by yourself at your own pace, without someone else telling you what to do or checking to make sure you're doing it.

Your personal situation has changed. Big adjustments such as getting married, having kids, or caring for an ailing parent can change your priorities and affect how you view your career.

You want to advance. Perhaps you have been promoted as far as you can go in your present job, but you know you have much more to offer and crave more responsibility.

You can see the writing on the wall. Maybe you're in a field without much future, your company's about to be bought out, or the economy is taking a toll on your industry and it's time for you to move on.

You want more money. Perhaps your responsibilities have increased but your salary has stayed the same. A 2005–2006 Salary.com, Inc. survey measuring employee satisfaction found that less than 50 percent of respondents believed they were adequately paid. The same survey revealed that inadequate compensation ranks as the biggest reason people leave their jobs. However, just because someone believes he is underpaid doesn't mean he is, relative to his peers. There are many other things besides money that can help one feel adequately compensated, from more vacation time to appropriate recognition.

You want more creativity. You long for an opportunity that lets you think outside the box or dream up new things rather than adhere to a strict “we've always done it this way” mentality.

You May Not Be Ready for Change

If you checked one or two items, you are doing pretty well where you are. No job situation is perfect. It's the lucky person who has found a career that satisfies every one of her goals, needs, and desires. But if you feel strongly about one or two of these things, you can take the self-assessment tests in this book and map out some ways to approach your career differently.

You May Be Ready for Change

If you checked three to six items, you're probably ready for a change. You're in luck. The rest of the assessment tools in this book will help you figure out what that change might be and point you in the direction of implementing it. Remember, “change” doesn't necessarily mean changing careers or employers, although that may very well be what you want or need. There are many tweaks and improvements that can increase your career satisfaction in your present situation.

You Are Ready for Change

If you checked seven or more items, you are already in a career transition whether you realize it or not. Plodding on without making any changes at all won't do you — or your employer — any favors. If you know you need to do something but you're at a loss as to where to start, the self-assessment tools that follow will give you plenty of ideas as you set goals and take the necessary steps to reach them.