Feeling like something isn’t quite right with your career? You’re not alone. Research shows that 50% of workers are considering a career change, yet many stay stuck because they’re not sure if their feelings are “justified” or what to do about them.
After coaching hundreds of people through career transitions, I’ve noticed clear patterns in those ready for change. Here are five signs it might be time to explore your options – and practical steps you can take right now.
Feeling like something isn’t quite right with your career? You’re not alone. Research shows that 50% of workers are considering a career change, yet many stay stuck because they’re not sure if their feelings are “justified” or what to do about them.
After coaching hundreds of people through career transitions, I’ve noticed clear patterns in those ready for change. Here are five signs it might be time to explore your options – and practical steps you can take right now.
1. Sunday night dread has become your normal
The sign: That sinking feeling on Sunday evening isn’t occasional – it’s every single week. You find yourself saying “I just need to get through this week” but the finish line keeps moving. Monday morning feels like walking towards something you’re actively trying to avoid.
Why it matters: Work should have challenges, even stressful periods. But chronic dread is your body telling you something fundamental isn’t right. This isn’t about having “a bad day” – it’s about a fundamental misalignment between you and your role.
What to do: Ask yourself: “What specifically am I dreading?” Is it the work itself, the environment, the people, the values, or something else? Write it down. The more specific you can be, the better you can evaluate whether a change within your current role could help, or whether it’s time for something bigger.
2. You’re successful but unfulfilled
The sign: On paper, you’re doing well. Good salary, respect from colleagues, perhaps promotions or recognition. But you feel… empty. The achievements don’t give you the satisfaction they should. You might find yourself thinking “Is this it?”
Why it matters: Success without fulfilment is one of the hardest positions to be in because others don’t understand. People ask “What more could you want?” But deep down, you know something essential is missing – usually alignment with your values or a sense of purpose.
What to do: Reflect on what fulfilment means to you specifically. For some it’s creativity, for others impact, autonomy, learning, helping others, or building something. What did you imagine work would give you? Where is the gap between expectation and reality?
3. Your health is suffering
The sign: You’re getting frequent headaches, digestive issues, sleeping poorly, or getting ill more often. Your GP might have said “It’s stress.” You’re drinking more, eating worse, or abandoning exercise because you’re “too tired.” Relationships are strained because you have nothing left to give when you get home.
Why it matters: Your body keeps score even when your mind tries to push through. Chronic stress from work misalignment doesn’t just impact your career – it impacts your health, relationships, and quality of life. The cost of staying is measurable in years of life and happiness.
What to do: This is urgent. Start documenting the physical symptoms and their frequency. Talk to your GP not just about managing symptoms but about work as a contributing factor. Meanwhile, begin exploring: “What kind of work would allow me to maintain my health?”
4. You’ve outgrown your role (but there’s nowhere up to go)
The sign: You could do your job in your sleep. There’s no challenge, no learning, no growth. You’ve raised it with management but the options are limited – either stay where you are or leave the organisation. The thought of doing this for another 10-20 years feels suffocating.
Why it matters: Human beings need growth and development. When work becomes pure repetition without learning, your brain literally starts to disengage. Boredom might sound trivial, but chronic under-stimulation is as damaging as chronic stress.
What to do: Consider whether the problem is this role, this industry, or this type of work entirely. Could a lateral move reignite interest? Or is it time to explore something fundamentally different? Many career changers discover they’ve been in the wrong field, not just the wrong job.
5. Your values and your work have diverged
The sign: You find yourself uncomfortable with decisions being made, company direction, or what your work contributes to the world. You might feel like you’re “selling out” or compromising your integrity. When people ask what you do, you give a vague answer because you’re not proud of it.
Why it matters: Values alignment is essential for long-term satisfaction. When your daily work conflicts with what you believe matters, you experience cognitive dissonance that erodes wellbeing and self-respect over time. This doesn’t make you “difficult” – it makes you human.
What to do: Get clear on your non-negotiables. What values are most important to you? (e.g., creativity, autonomy, helping others, environmental responsibility, integrity, work-life balance) Where is your current role violating those values? What kinds of work would honour them?
“But I don’t know what else I’d do…”
This is the number one thing that keeps people stuck. Here’s the truth: you don’t need to know what’s next before you start exploring. Career change coaching helps you:
- Gain clarity on what’s not working and what you actually want
- Explore options you may not have considered
- Identify transferable skills (you have more than you think)
- Create a strategy for testing ideas before committing
- Build confidence to make a change aligned with your values
Most of my career change clients start with “I don’t know what I want to do.” By the end of our work together, they have a clear direction and a plan to get there.
What’s your next step?
If you recognised yourself in three or more of these signs, it’s worth exploring your options. You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow – but you do deserve to investigate whether there’s something better waiting for you.
Take 30 minutes this week to:
1. Journal about which signs resonate most
2. Identify what you’d need from your next role
3. Research one career option you’ve been curious about
Or, book a free discovery call with me to discuss your situation confidentially and explore whether career change coaching could help you find clarity and take action.
https://calendly.com/renewed-info/20mins
Remember: Feeling unfulfilled isn’t a character flaw. It’s information. The question is what you’ll do with it.
