How to Navigate a Mid-Career Crisis

Believe it or not, there’s such a thing as a mid-career crisis. In total, we spend an equivalent of over 13 years of our lives working, so if that’s feeling out of alignment, it can greatly impact our emotional wellbeing.

But what is the meaning of a mid-career crisis? You might feel like you’ve lost motivation for projects that would normally excite you, or you might feel undervalued in your current role. Perhaps you’re constantly tired, and the thought of going into the office (or opening your laptop) makes you audibly sigh and reach for a third cup of coffee when let’s face it, you’re only meant to have one or two.

In this blog post, we’ll help you figure out why you’re feeling stuck. We’ll provide some helpful tips for dealing with a mid-career slump, navigating a mid-career change, and deciding whether a gap year is right for you. Read on and start getting your career mojo back.

A mid-career malaise is common, and it can take a real toll on our mental wellbeing. Let’s look at some tips to help you navigate the slump and make it out on the other side.

If you’re feeling stuck or unhappy with your current career or job, the first step is to determine why.

Maybe you’ve ended up in your current career by accident and haven’t made time to deliberately think or plan what you’d love to do and how you’d get there. Prioritising time to think about what you really want to be doing should be your first step towards becoming unstuck.

Set aside time in your day for yourself. Spend this time thinking about what you love doing, picturing the kind of lifestyle you want, and imagining your dream day or week.

Take the time to figure out what makes you happy at work and what doesn’t. Consider some of the following things:

• Do you like the industry you’re in?
• Are you challenged (in a good way) in your current work situation?
• Do you feel like you’re using your skills and experience to the best of your ability?
• Do you like working for other people, or would you prefer to be self-employed?
• Do you like a strict workday that starts and finishes at a certain time, or do you like to be flexible and dictate your own hours?
• Do you work best in an office or from home?
• Are you excited by the prospect of changing jobs or careers?

The next step is to decide what’s most important to you and what you can compromise on. If your current employer can’t give you what’s most important to you, then it’s probably time to start planning your next steps. This could include upskilling through extra training and external courses or simply updating your CV as a starting point.

When it comes to career progression, we often hear the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Don’t wait until you’re ready to leave to start expanding your networks! Reach out and align yourself with an NZ recruitment agency; talk to them about your current position and how you feel about your career. Get their advice on the market you currently work in and what opportunities there might be.

Recruitment specialists can provide great insight into job hunting and hiring, along with general insight into a particular industry and where things are heading. They’re recruitment experts for a reason; they can help steer you in a certain direction or just give you general career advice.

If you’re trying to get in shape, it’s easier to do so when you hang out with people who love exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle, right? On the other hand, if you surround yourself with people who never exercise and eat a pie for breakfast every day, it’ll be harder to stay on track. Look for people on a similar journey to yours; it’ll help you up your game and keep you motivated to achieve your goals.

If you want a career change or to set up your own business, seek out people who are already doing that and excelling at it. They’ll have valuable things to teach you about breaking free and getting ahead because they’ve been where you are and have come out the other side.

Jeff Bezos defines a personal brand as “what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

What do you want people to say about you when you’re not in the room? What do you want to be known for? Being more deliberate about how you want to be perceived and what you’re looking for in your career will increase your chance of attracting the right opportunities.

Also, make sure your LinkedIn profile (or any business platform you use) is up to date and that it communicates who you are effectively and what you want to be known for.

It’s easy to say or think to yourself that you will do something and then not do it. We get it; life gets in the way, and circumstances change. Holding yourself accountable is the only way to grow, learn, and achieve your career goals faster. Tell other people what your goals are and align these goals to a timeline so you have others along your journey to hold you accountable.

All the professional development, goal setting, and networks in the world won’t make you happy if you work for a company whose values oppose your own. If you feel that your values don’t match the core values of your employer, it could be a reason why you’re feeling stuck in your career and unhappy.

For example, you might value work-life balance while your employer values working as many hours in a day as humanly possible. You may value equal rights and pay for employees, but you know your employer pays people differently based on things you don’t agree with.

Your values are super important, and they can help identify whether it’s the job that’s not right for you or if it’s the organisation. Determine what you’re looking for in an employer—we’re talking about your non-negotiables—and go from there.

This one is short and sweet, yet so powerful! Your comfort zone is your safe place. Have you ever heard the saying, “Change nothing, and nothing changes”? For any positive change to happen—including in your career—you need to step outside of your comfort zone.

Failure is part of life that we need to become comfortable with. It’s a chance to learn, grow, and become better than you were. A University study found that children learning to walk averaged 2,368 steps and fell 17 times an hour. Failure is simply the natural path to success; don’t be afraid to embrace it and move forward.

Resilience is the ability to tackle difficulties and setbacks, bounce back, regroup, and keep going. Getting unstuck in your career, taking a different path, and achieving the results you want will take resilience. So, how can you build your resilience? Here are a few useful tips:

• Change the narrative: When something bad happens, we often ruminate over it, reliving the feeling over and over again. Change the story to one that favours the lesson in the situation and how you can use it to move forward and grow. For example, maybe you were made redundant from your job—how can you turn it from a negative experience into a positive one?
• Face your fears: Fears can be debilitating—even seemingly common ones like public speaking or heights. Instead of trying to talk ourselves out of facing our fears, we need to tackle them head-on to beat them or, at the very least, make them less overpowering.
• Practice self-compassion: We need to confront our uncomfortable feelings with kindness and without judgment. How would you talk to a friend in a similar situation? Approach your own feelings with the same empathy and warmth.

Building resilience takes time, but it will benefit you in every area of your life beyond your career.

It can be hard to ask for help—it can make us feel vulnerable like we’ve failed at the thing we were trying to do. But in reality, no one person can be expected to have all the answers. We need a group of people that we can go to for help and ask for advice; people who can pick us up when we have setbacks and help us to celebrate success. You’re most likely that person for someone else! Surround yourself with those people, and make sure you reach out when you need to.

A mid-career change can be daunting, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Here are some tips for navigating the big change:

The first step when considering a career change in your mid-20s is to evaluate why you want this change. Are you looking for more fulfilment? A better work-life balance? More money? Once you have a clear understanding of your motivations, you can start to explore new career options.

Research industries and roles that interest you. Conduct informational interviews with professionals in those fields to gain insights into their daily responsibilities, challenges, and rewards. Look for opportunities to gain relevant experience through volunteering, internships, or part-time work.

Updating your skills is also crucial. Consider taking courses or earning certifications to make you more competitive in your new field. Many online platforms offer affordable and flexible learning options.

Be prepared for a potential pay cut or entry-level position as you transition. Changing careers often means starting at the bottom, but with persistence and dedication, you can climb the ladder in your new field just as you did in your previous one.

A mid-career gap year can be a powerful way to reset, gain new perspectives, and return to work with renewed energy and focus. However, it’s not a decision to take lightly. Here are some factors to consider:

Ensure you have enough savings to cover your living expenses for your gap year. This period might also be a good time to downsize or cut back on non-essential spending.

Consider how a gap year might affect your career trajectory. Will it be viewed positively as a time of growth and reflection, or could it raise questions about your commitment? If possible, communicate your plans with your current employer and see if they would support a sabbatical.

What do you hope to achieve during your gap year? Clear goals will help you make the most of your time off, whether you’re travelling, pursuing a passion project, or spending more time with family.

A gap year doesn’t mean a year without growth. Consider ways to continue developing your skills and expanding your network, even during a break. You might take online courses, attend workshops, or engage in freelance work related to your field.

Before you take a gap year, plan how you’ll re-enter the workforce. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile with any new skills or experiences gained during your time off. Stay in touch with your professional network, and be prepared to explain how your gap year has made you a better candidate.

The most important thing is to remember that you’re not alone. It’s estimated that most people will have at least 12 jobs during their lives, and the most common age to completely change your career is 39. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to re-evaluate their lives and what’s most important, and your career is a huge part of that balance.

If you need advice on your career or your next move, contact our experienced recruitment specialists or explore our available opportunities, including architecture roles, structural engineering jobs, and much more!