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Many people reach a point where they start thinking about a career change.
Sometimes it is a feeling that grows gradually over time, in some cases years. In other cases, it can appear suddenly – such as when triggered by a shock redundancy or an unexpected change.
However it shows up, it tends to feel like a background sense that:
But that does not automatically mean you need to change career.
The real challenge is understanding both what the problem actually is (the push factor), and what you are being drawn towards instead (the pull factor).
Only when you understand both can you see whether the pull you are feeling can be met within your current path, or whether it genuinely requires a career change.
Most people who are thinking about a career change fall into one of five categories.
This is where the work no longer fits you.
You may feel:
In this case, a career change may be necessary.
Sometimes the issue is not the career, but the context.
Examples include:
In these cases, changing role, organisation or structure may be enough.
Here, the work itself may be broadly fine, but the practical conditions are not.
You may find that:
In these cases, the solution may be to reshape your current path rather than change it entirely.
Sometimes everything looks fine on paper, but something still is not working.
You may feel:
In this case, the issue is not necessarily your career, but your confidence, positioning or readiness to move forward.
This is the most common and most misunderstood.
You may feel:
Here, the issue is not necessarily your career.
It is a lack of clarity about what you want and what options are available to you.
You may need a career change if:
From a push/pull perspective:
You may not need to change career if:
From a push/pull perspective:
The most common mistake is trying to decide too early.
People often ask:
“Should I change careers?”
before they understand:
This leads to either:
Instead of trying to decide immediately, a more effective approach is:
This allows the decision to emerge from evidence rather than assumption.
It also ensures that you are not deciding based on dissatisfaction alone, but on whether a realistic and satisfying alternative actually exists for you.
This is where many people get stuck.
If you feel that you can only decide once you understand what else is out there, you are not alone.
In that situation, it can be useful to explore how different types of support approach this problem:
→ Career coaching vs career change coaching
Coaching is often most useful when the issue is not information, but clarity and decision-making.
It can help you:
If you are unsure whether coaching itself is appropriate, you may want to explore:
If you feel that a career change is likely, you can explore:
If you are still deciding, a structured starting point can help you work this through properly:
→ Start with a Career Clarity & Next Step Review
Possibly, but not always. The key is understanding whether your dissatisfaction comes from the work itself, the environment, or a lack of clarity.
When you have evidence that your current path cannot meet your needs, even in its best form.
By understanding what you want, exploring realistic options, and making a decision based on evidence rather than assumption.
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