Outgrowing Your Career and Finding the Courage for a Career Change

Aug 28

Have you ever felt like your job no longer fits, even though you’re good at it? Like you’ve outgrown it, but you’re not sure if it’s just burnout or something deeper calling you forward? I’ve seen this crossroads again and again in my work with candidates, managers, business leaders, and I’ve been there myself.

For over 8 years I was a business owner and worked with clients across the United States. I worked with them as a collaborative partner to build their teams and bring awareness and solutions to challenges they were experiencing. I often mentored CEOs Owners, Managers, and worked with a lot of startups building their teams.

I interviewed candidates to understand why they wanted the job and what made them the best candidate. It was my mission to make sure candidates felt seen and heard and they had a positive interview experience, to make sure they felt comfortable enough to show their best self in the interview.

Over time, I noticed a pattern that had nothing to do with skill-set. It was the difference between those stuck in cycles of burnout and those alive with purpose. It didn’t matter what industry or level of position, the same emotional root was present.

There were the group of candidates that were burnt out. It was evident they were good at their jobs and had the knowledge and skills, but they weren’t energized by their work. It was just a job. A job like so many of us needs to live, and to pay the bills. This is the path they had been on from the beginning and the only one they knew. Sometimes I learned what candidates were truly passionate about, but those passions lived separately from their daily life.

Then there were the candidates that made a career change. They left one field, taught themselves a new one, launched something, and took a risk. They were driven by more than security, it was their passion that gave them courage to make a change and step into alignment.

So often, we get too comfortable in stagnancy, we have responsibilities, and people depending on us. We allow our fear of the unknown and failure to dictate and chart our path. Even when our soul is aching for us to make a change and grow, we shove down the quiet voice that wants more.

Job Burnout VS Outgrowing Your Career

The challenge with understanding if you are experiencing burnout from your job or outgrowing your career is that you can be burned out and also outgrowing your role. Below are some common signs that I encountered on my path and have seen in others that will help you decipher if you are outgrowing your career or just burnt out.

Common Signs of Job Burnout

Chronic exhaustion even after rest
You’ve lost motivation, even for parts of the job you used to enjoy
You are withdrawing from coworkers and avoiding communication
Small tasks feel overwhelming or mentally draining
You feel unusually irritable during the workday
You want to do your job but feel depleted
You are still curious about your job and industry but need a break or vacation
You still enjoy the work and feel it’s meaningful but feel unbalanced

Common Signs You Are Outgrowing Your Career

You’re bored or disconnected, even if work is manageable.
You feel no longer aligned with the purpose or mission.
You want a new direction.
No longer have curiosity or an interest in growth.
You fantasize about a completely different path.

Common Realizations You Are Outgrowing Your Career

Your values have shifted, but your work hasn't.
You’re great at your job but you feel numb doing it.
You no longer identify with your title or industry.
You dread small talk about your work.
You feel yourself craving meaning more than money.
You keep getting intuitive nudges or signs about change.
When others talk about their passions, you feel a pain of loss.

Common Thoughts and Fears About Making a Change

What if I start over and it doesn’t work?

I’ve spent years in my field and building my career, I can’t walk away.
I don’t know what I would do instead.
I can’t afford to change right now.
I’ll let people down if I quit.
What would other people think?
I’m too old or too young.
What if I fail?
I went to school for this, I can’t make a change.
What if I make the wrong choice and regret it.

How to Make a Career Change

There is this perception in society that the path we choose in our career when we are young is the only one. Even the corporate world makes it challenging to make a career change. Many managers I worked with didn’t want to consider people that didn’t have the experience.

So much of our lives is spent working and if what you are doing is out of alignment, then you might be missing out on a path that not only fulfills you but helps others. These are some beginning steps to help you map out a transition if you are looking to make a career change.

1). Pay Attention to Your Energy Shifts

I was mentoring a Hiring Manager that had been in his industry since he was kid and had this business idea. As he spoke, his energy changed. He was inspired, excited, and each time we spoke about his current job his energy sunk, but when we spoke about what was in alignment with his soul - what he felt compelled to start, his energy shifted to a grounded, passionate energy.

Have awareness of this in yourself and pay attention to what you could talk about for a long time, something that excites you, challenges you, and makes you lose track of time. Notice which tasks and responsibilities energize and drain you. These are clues that point to your gifts and strengths.

2). Create a Thought Board

I was speaking to a client I was working with that was stuck in procrastination mode and wasn’t making any progress on his new business and was struggling due to burnout from his current job. I told him to take one step daily to build momentum, so he will have mini wins and make progress. This will build his confidence and get out of the cycle of fear and procrastination. I also told him to create a thought board of ideas, so he wouldn’t forget them. By creating a spreadsheet of ideas (thought board), you can zone in on the aspects you want to create and the areas you need to learn.

3). Talk to Someone Who’s Made a Big Change

When you have someone to help you navigate and support you through large transitions, it allows you to have realizations and clarity, overcome challenges, provide solutions, hold you accountable, and create a thought-partner space. As a mentor, I’ve worked with people at these exact crossroads, when you know something has to change but you don’t know where to begin.

It’s not easy to face the truth that your career no longer feels right. However, I have witnessed so many people that have shown me that change is possible at any age and phase in life. Outgrowing your career means your soul is ready for more and listening to that voice might be the most important work you ever do.

Em Nightingale