Feeling Stuck? Pinpoint What You Really Want in Your Next Career Move

Making a career move sounds simple—until you’re actually in that moment. I’ve been there. You know you want something different, but where do you even begin?

If your manager or company hasn’t been super invested in your growth, it’s easy to feel restless or like you’ve hit a wall. There’s that quiet itch for something “better” or “more,” but when you try to define what that actually means… it gets blurry fast. You start questioning if you even know what you want anymore—or if the career path you were once so sure about still fits who you are now.

That uncertainty can feel overwhelming. You’re trying to make the right move, but the fear of making the wrong one keeps you frozen. Add in the weight of expectations—your own or other people’s—and suddenly setting career goals feels like a giant question mark.

You’re not alone in this. So many people hit this stage, especially during transitions—new roles, life changes, or just when the “plan” stops feeling like the right one. Here’s the good news: feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re off-track. In fact, it usually means you’re ready to grow. You don’t need all the answers right now—you just need to get curious again. 

Below are a few practical steps (from someone who’s coached a lot of folks through this) to help you figure out what’s next.

Look Back Before You Look Forward

Before you start mapping out your future, spend some time looking at your past. What kinds of work have felt energizing to you? When did you feel the most “in your element”? Was it solving problems solo? Leading a team? Building something from scratch?

On the flip side—what drained you? What types of tasks, team dynamics, or company cultures made it harder to stay motivated?

This kind of reflection isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about pattern-spotting. If certain environments brought out the best in you, that’s worth paying attention to. And if you find that your biggest accomplishments happened when you had more autonomy or a strong mentor, that’s useful data, too. Think of your past as a library of clues to guide your next move.

Reconnect with Your Values

When you’re in the thick of a busy job (or feeling stuck in one), your values can start to feel a little distant. But they’re still there—and they matter now more than ever.

Ask yourself: What’s really important to me right now? Is it flexibility? Stability? Creative freedom? A path to leadership? Maybe it’s working somewhere that aligns with a cause you care about.

This isn’t just about feel-good words—it’s about getting clear on what you’re actually optimizing for. And your priorities might have shifted since your last role change. That’s normal. Life changes, and so do you. Once you know your values, it becomes easier to filter what’s worth pursuing and what’s just noise. Think of your values as your north star—something to measure opportunities against.

Get Curious

You don’t need to have your next role picked out to start exploring. In fact, the exploration phase is where a lot of unexpected clarity comes from.

Start small: read job descriptions in industries that interest you, even if you’re not ready to apply. Listen to podcasts or panels featuring people in roles you admire. Reach out for informational interviews—people are often more open to chatting than you’d think, especially if you’re genuinely curious and not just pitching yourself.

And if you’re really unsure, try dipping your toe in through side projects or freelance work. Testing something out in a low-stakes way can be incredibly insightful. You’ll learn more in one day doing the work than in weeks of overthinking it.

Figure Out What’s Not Working

If defining what you want feels tough, flip it—start by identifying what you don’t want. That process can be just as powerful.

What’s currently frustrating or unfulfilling about your job? Is it the work itself, the pace, the culture, your manager, or just a sense that you’ve outgrown it? List those things out. It’s a helpful gut check—and it can help you create your own “non-negotiables” list for what you want to avoid in your next move.

You can also try a personal SWOT analysis: What are your strengths? Where do you need support or growth? What opportunities excite you? What external challenges are blocking your progress? This isn’t about fixing everything overnight—it’s about understanding where you are so you can move forward more intentionally.

Consider Your Lifestyle and Personal Circumstances

We talk a lot about career goals, but what about life goals? Where do those fit in?

Think about how your next role might support or strain other areas of your life. Do you need more flexibility to manage family commitments or mental health? Are you craving more in-person connection—or less? Would a remote role help you explore living in a new city?

And don’t forget financial needs. Whether you’re trying to build savings, pay off debt, or afford a lifestyle shift, those goals are valid and worth factoring into your decision-making. Your job doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s one piece of the bigger picture. Making a move that honors your whole life will almost always feel more sustainable than chasing a title or trend.

Be Open to a Nonlinear Path

One of the biggest myths about careers is that they’re supposed to follow a straight line. 

Spoiler alert: they rarely do.

Some of the most interesting and fulfilling roles come from left turns—lateral moves, career pivots, or opportunities that weren’t even on your radar six months ago. So if the “perfect” next step hasn’t shown up yet, don’t panic. Stay curious. Stay in motion. Talk to people. Try new things. Keep asking yourself: What’s something I could learn or explore next—even if it’s not forever? 

Progress doesn’t always look like a promotion. Sometimes, it looks like building momentum, clarity, and confidence one step at a time.

Now let’s get to work!

Clarity comes through action.

You don’t need the full plan to take the first step. And the truth is, most people don’t get clarity by thinking harder—they get it by doing something. Anything. Even if it’s small.

Reflecting on your past, reconnecting with your values, talking to someone new—all of it counts. Every small move you make is data. It’s momentum. And it brings you one step closer to the clarity you’ve been waiting for.

So if you’re feeling stuck, know this: You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re in process—and that’s exactly where growth happens!