You probably know the feeling: you no longer find fulfilment in your current job, but you’re not exactly sure what it is you do want to do. The enthusiasm with which you once started this role now feels very far away. Everything in you says it’s time for a new challenge. The question “I want another job, but which one?” can be a tough one to answer. I’ve faced this dilemma myself and know how frustrating it can be.
By now, I’ve found a new path. And today I guide people like you who are looking for a new challenge but don’t yet know what will make them happy. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to get closer to an answer.
Learn from your current situation
Before rushing into a new direction, it’s important to reflect on your current situation. Which aspects of your job no longer suit you? Is it about what you do? The “what” covers the tasks and responsibilities in your role. Are you spending all day in Excel with little say over which projects land on your desk? That’s part of the “what.”
Or is it about where you do your work? This refers to the organization itself, including your colleagues, the culture, and the workload. Do you notice that you can’t be yourself at work? Then it’s time to focus on the “where.”
Chances are that you’ll recognize yourself in either the “what” or the “where” as the source of dissatisfaction. By clarifying this, you’ll better understand what you don’t want anymore and avoid falling into the same traps in your next job.
Sometimes it also helps to look at the “how” and the “why.” The how is about the way you’re part of the organization — for example: employee versus manager, or working in a job versus freelancing. The why refers to whether your work gives you a sense of meaning. If you feel strongly about social impact, then an e-commerce company driven purely by profit may not be the most inspiring environment for you.
Explore your passions and interests
A new job should not only align with your skills but also with your passions and interests. Take the time to reflect on what you truly enjoy doing, both inside and outside of work. What would you do if money was no longer a factor? And what does your phone search history reveal about your interests?
Maybe you’ve always had a passion for writing but never developed it further. Or perhaps you love organizing events, yet you’re stuck in an administrative role. Identifying your passions and interests helps you see possible directions for your next step.
What’s important at this stage is not to let objections stop you. Thoughts like “With my background, no one will hire me” or “That will never work” don’t help. The right order is first to feel what you want, and only then explore the possibilities. Chances are that most objections will fall away once you do. Let someone else tell you why it can’t be done — it’s not your job to rule it out in advance!
Talk to people in different fields
Once you’ve thought of one or more possible directions for your new role and work environment, it’s time to talk to other people. It may seem tempting to learn everything about a job, industry, or type of organization from behind your laptop.
But in reality, no one has ever truly “fallen in love” with their new job from behind a screen. You need to get out there! At this stage, it’s a good idea to have conversations with people working in fields and organizations that interest you. These can be friends, family, or colleagues, but also people you meet via LinkedIn or networking events. Ask them about their daily work, the challenges they face, and what they enjoy about their jobs. These conversations will give you fresh insights and help you form a clearer picture of the different career possibilities.
Use different sources to discover your talents
An effective way to identify your talents, strengths, and weaknesses is by combining different sources. Start with yourself: write down how you see yourself, what skills you have, and what you think you could still improve. This gives you a baseline. Next, it’s valuable to ask for feedback from others, both at work and in your personal life. Ask colleagues, team members, and managers (both horizontal and vertical relationships) for their perspective, as well as friends and family. They can often point out aspects you may overlook yourself.
You can also take a personality test to get a more objective view of your talents and weaknesses. For example, a free version of the world’s most used personality questionnaire, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Even RedBull (!) offers a free test that can give you new insights into your personality and strengths. Finally, there’s Gallup’s CliftonStrengths (formerly “StrengthsFinder”), which is a paid option.
Figuring out which work suits you
When you combine these three sources — self-reflection, feedback from others, and personality tests — you gain a strong and complete picture of your talents, strengths, and weaknesses. This knowledge is incredibly valuable in your job search, as it helps you understand which roles and environments are the best fit for you.
What you definitely want to avoid is blindly applying for every vacancy you come across. This only leads to more confusion and frustration — and it diminishes your value.
Can’t figure it out on your own?
Sometimes it’s difficult to sort things out by yourself, and that’s when career coaching can be a great option. A career coach can help you organize your thoughts, explore your interests and skills, and guide you toward making a well-considered choice. At Growth Center, we offer professional career coaching to help you reach your goals and choose a career path that truly fits you. You can find more information on our career coaching page.
Schedule a clarity call
Are you ready to take the next step and discover which job truly fits you? Then schedule a clarity call. Together we can shape your future and help you confidently move in a new direction. Take the first step toward your new dream job today!
