Career change question for everyone

[Prloko]

I can give the "it depends answer", but I know you already know that "it depends".

While I won't go and advise you to just tell your boss you're pounding sand and just leave, I would explore the market. Re-do your resume. Refresh/join linkedin. Apply to jobs just to see what is out there and what is your worth. Even if you don't leave, that type of market research is very valuable. Many workers your age at times get blind-sided with lay-offs and other sudden losses of income. I wouldn't wait for a catastrophic event like that to explore the market. Always seek opportunities from a position of strength, not weakness.

Recently, I played with the idea of moving out of my state and closer to where I grew up. I went ahead and applied to some positions related to my field but out of my current expertise. I was surprised by the positive response to my resume. One position went and offered me $80k plus an annual bonus. I turned it down because it was a little less than I get paid and I was actually souring from moving anyway. Weeks later, I was contacted again by the same company offering me 10% over what I'm currently paid. They claimed they "re-assessed" the pay of the position. It felt good knowing my market value and I also learned about calling bluffs; something I can only do from a position of strength.

I would advise even if you have no intentions of changing positions to at least test the market, especially armed with your shiny new degree. You can get valuable insight into your value or even learn you may need to reformat your resume.