What’s Next When Your Current Role No Longer Fits?

Sometimes it starts as a whisper—something feels off. Other times, it hits like a wall: this role just isn’t working anymore. Whether it’s a misalignment in values, a lack of growth, or a shift in priorities, it’s okay to admit that the current role no longer fits.

This last segment with Giselle Moratin tackles the emotional and strategic side of career change. It’s about finding clarity, avoiding the common pitfalls, and creating a more intentional path forward.

If there’s even a slight question of “What’s next?”— this is the guide to help you make sense of it.

Listen on your favorite podcast app:

Mistake #1: Launching a Job Search Without Real Clarity

Jumping straight into applications may feel productive, but without direction, it only leads to frustration.

• Applying to anything and everything dilutes your value.

• Being open to anything makes it harder for hiring managers to see where you actually fit.

• Casting a wide net often results in poor-fit offers—or no offers at all.

Instead, start with a full reflection:

• What roles have brought the most fulfillment?

• What motivates action, creativity, and contribution?

• What values matter most in this next chapter?

A career pivot doesn't always mean starting over—it means building forward with intention.

Mistake #2: Basing Next Steps Only on What’s Familiar

It’s easy to pick the roles seen in family, past jobs, or the immediate network. But sticking only with the familiar can close doors to possibilities that haven’t yet been explored.

• Titles don’t always reflect the function or fit of a role.

• There are new and emerging careers that didn’t exist five years ago.

• Some of the best-aligned opportunities won’t appear in everyday circles.

This is where ideation and research come in:

• Identify strengths and work preferences using tools like the Holland Code.

• Explore industries or functions outside the usual comfort zone.

• Look beyond job titles—focus on the work itself and how it aligns with natural strengths.

A broader lens leads to better decisions.

Mistake #3: Guessing Instead of Researching

Career changes are big decisions. Treating them like a guessing game isn’t just risky—it’s unnecessary.

• Schedule exploratory chats with people in roles of interest.

• Ask strategic questions about their day-to-day, their growth path, and company culture.

• Use real-world insights to validate alignment with personal career goals.

One of the most powerful ways to gather clarity is through conversation.

Even a few meaningful connections can offer insight that saves months of uncertainty.

Mistake #4: Staying Vague After Finding the Right Direction

Even with clarity, there’s one final pitfall: staying vague in branding and communication.

• Generic resumes and LinkedIn profiles water down messaging.

• Being “open to anything” leads to being overlooked for everything.

• Untranslated experience makes even the best candidates seem unqualified.

Instead, once clarity is gained:

• Confirm the target role, ideal industries, and company preferences.

• Translate past experience into language the new field understands.

• Align resume, LinkedIn, and even casual conversations around that focused path.

Consistency creates trust.

When hiring managers see a clear, focused professional, they see someone who’s ready for the next level.

Give Yourself Permission to Pivot

Career paths don’t have to be linear to be valid. Growth doesn’t always mean up—it might mean deeper, more meaningful, more aligned.

• A shift from corporate to nonprofit can be just as powerful as a title change.

• Slowing down for legacy or fulfillment can be just as brave as leveling up.

• Pivoting industries or functions doesn’t erase past experience—it enhances it.

The story doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but the person living it. A pivot is permission to pursue work that energizes, challenges, and honors every chapter that came before it.

To Sum it Up...

If the current role no longer fits, that realization isn’t failure—it’s a signal. Something’s ready to evolve.

• Begin with reflection.

• Explore with curiosity.

• Narrow with intention.

• Communicate with confidence.

There’s no one right answer.

But clarity, structure, and aligned action will lead to the right next step.

It’s not just about finding a new job.

It’s about stepping into a role that fits the life being built today—and the future being imagined next.

Keep going.

What’s ahead may surprise you in the best way.

P.S. Follow me on LinkedIn for more highly-practical guidance. 

Follow-up Episodes:

↳ Listen to Part 1, #105: Making Networking Easy: How to Build Organic Relationships

↳ Listen to Part 2, #109: LinkedIn Action Steps to Get Seen & Hired Faster