At some point many people hit a wall: the job no longer fits, life circumstances shift, or you find yourself in a new country wondering why recruiters ignore your resume. That moment can feel like a crisis, but it’s also a powerful signal. Instead of panicking and rushing into the next open door, there is a calmer, smarter way to decide what comes next.
The first and most useful question is not which company you should join. Ask why you started thinking about change in the first place. Major life events — immigration, maternity leave, layoffs — trigger reflection. But understanding the root cause determines whether you need a lateral move or a full pivot.
Answering these helps you see whether the frustration is about people and culture or about the work itself.
Your brain operates in two systems: quick reactions and slower, deeper thinking. If your immediate answer is “I don’t know,” that’s a flag to slow down and switch to the slow system. Honest reflection takes energy, and sometimes you need a partner to pull the answers out of you.
If you can be brutally honest with yourself, you can run this interrogation alone. If you’re used to defaulting to “I don’t know,” working with a coach or an experienced mentor is practical. A coach helps you stay accountable, asks the right probing questions, and prevents you from leaving a session with the same vague uncertainty.
When you panic you tend to thrash—apply for everything, accept the first offer, or repeatedly try the same failing approach. Instead, do the opposite:
“If you’re drowning, the instinct is to panic and splash. The better move is to relax, let the water hold you, and then steer.”
If you are moving countries and thinking about changing careers at the same time, you are stacking two high-stress experiments. That makes it nearly impossible to understand which change caused the outcome. The safer approach is to sequence changes:
If you must change careers before moving, get the experience and portfolio in your current country first. It’s far easier to sell three years of practical experience than to sell zero.
American companies often favor close fits for roles. The quick answer: make your background a great fit.
This means investing in bridging the gaps yourself. Companies rarely take responsibility for foundational training. They expect you to arrive competent and job-ready. Practical ways to make yourself fit:
Don’t expect an employer to teach you fundamentals for free. You pay for your education; treat the company as the place to apply and scale what you already proved.
Soft skills and independent problem solving are often assumed. In many places outside the US, managers act as teachers and mentors; in much of the US, you are expected to be self-directed. Learn the communication norms, meeting behaviour, and managerial expectations typical in American workplaces so you don’t trip on cultural fit.
Being laid off can feel catastrophic, but it can also push you toward creating something that relies on you alone. The appeal of entrepreneurship is control. You decide which clients to pursue, how to price your work, and how to structure your days.
Running your own business removes the single point of failure of an employer, but it also creates responsibilities: finding clients, managing finances, and building a brand. Revenue may fluctuate, but if you build thoughtfully you are creating an asset.
If you go this route, set up the basics early: an LLC, a CPA or accountant, basic legal counsel, and a small emergency fund for unexpected gaps.
Career crises are not disasters. They are signals that you need change, reflection, and intention. Slow down, diagnose honestly, and choose one experiment at a time. Whether you pivot within your field, relaunch in a new country, or start your own company, do it with preparation. That way your next move is not a leap into the unknown but a calibrated step toward a life you can actually own.
