feeling stuck in your career

Feeling Stuck in Your Career? Why “Look for a New Job” Is Absolutely NOT Your First Step

Changing jobs can feel completely overwhelming. You might not be clear on what you actually want, your confidence may be low (in yourself, the process, the whole “who do I think I am?” vibe), and rejection probably makes you want to move to the Highlands and become a recluse.

 

But one of the biggest barriers I see? Many people think the first step is:
“Look for a new job.”

 

In my experience, starting there usually leads to a disheartening search, a few knocks to your confidence, and a couple of months extra procrastination.

 

So here's a professional career coach's guide to help you start in the right place, so each step you take feels more strategic, and a little less frantic.

Short/Medium / Long-Term Goals

This process is fairly essential if you want to stave off the overwhelm and get clear on where is right to start for you and your situation.

 

1) Short-Term: Stabilise
Rate your unhappiness on a scale of 1–10.

  • 6 and under: You might not need immediate action. Keep going while quietly exploring your options in the background.

  • 7 and above: You probably need a short-term goal to give you some relief first, because it’s hard to plan your future when you’re in survival mode.

Examples of short-term goals:

  • Have a conversation with your boss about workload or responsibilities

  • Adjust your schedule to create more balance

  • Take on a project that gives you variety or autonomy

  • The purpose here is to reduce your day to day misery enough so actually have the mental space for planning and executing your next step

  • Work-life balance coaching can be invaluable here, helping you create boundaries and adjustments that actually stick.

 

2) Medium-Term: Bridge
Do you want and feel ready to leap from your current role straight to your dream job? Or would a bridge role suit you better?

 

For example: You know you want out of law long-term, but your current firm or practice area is a terrible fit. A move to a better firm, better money, hours, or environment, might be the perfect bridge to your ultimate career. Your nervous system deserves a bridge.

 

In my case, I knew I wanted to work for myself but I wasn't set up to take the education steps to retrain as a coach in my existing job (it involved constant international travel and was exhausting). So my bridge role was a lovely company, with great working hours to free up my physical and mental capacity.

 

A career transition coach can help you identify what that middle step should look like.

 

3) Long-Term: Define What You Actually Want
This stage requires some honest self-reflection before you start applying for jobs. Ask yourself:

  • Who am I when I’m not trying to be “good” at work?

  • What are my natural gifts?

  • What parts of past jobs did I enjoy most?

  • What are my non-negotiables? (flexible hours, remote work, no weekends, etc.)

Write down your skills and talents in life, not just the ones on your CV. Maybe you’re basically an unpaid interiors consultant for your friends. Maybe you’re the go-to “talk me off the ledge” person (non-accredited life coach energy, we see you).

 

Once you know yourself fully, apply some logic:
“If I’m brilliant at this, what could that look like in a paid context?”

 

There’s no need for one dramatic leap. Moving from “I hate my job” → “I want something else” → “I know what I want” → “I can go for it” → “I got it” → “and it actually suits me” often requires curiosity, exploration, and one strategic step at a time.

How Career Coaching Can Support You

Working with a career coach or career and mindset coach can help you navigate this journey with confidence.

 

Together, we can:

 

If you’re ready to explore your next chapter, take my quick career clarity quiz to discover where you’re most stuck. From there, we can create a tailored plan to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

 

Takeaway

You don’t need to rush or force a dramatic leap. By taking intentional steps and getting the right support from a career coach, you can move from feeling stuck to finding meaningful, fulfilling work.

 

If you’re feeling stuck in your career and unsure what your next move should be, working with a career coach or career transition coach can help you gain clarity and take strategic, confident steps forward.

If you’re ready to explore what’s next, get in touch to find out how we can work together.