How to tell if you’re in the wrong job, according to a careers coach

“It seems obvious but when you’re in the right role, you shouldn’t feel that pre-work morning dread.”

Sometimes, even when you land what seems like your dream role, the job just doesn’t feel right. All the components are there – you work hard, have the correct skillset and are keen to please. You might even like your coworkers. So why does every Monday morning bring a fresh existential crisis? How do you know if a role is the wrong fit?

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To learn more about finding the right job, I spoke to Christina Storey, the Founder of Her Career Coach. Read on to learn the telltale signs of a wrong-fit role and the strategies you can implement to improve your work life.

You’re excited to go to work

It seems obvious but when you’re in the right role, you shouldn’t feel that pre-work morning dread. Christina said in a right-fit job, “you’re excited to go to work on Monday” and “make an impact”. The job is exciting for you, you like your coworkers and the workspace feels welcoming.

Your body is a compass

Lucky for us, our bodies are great at informing us when we’re making the right or wrong decisions. Christina explained you’ll know when you’re in the right role because you’ll get a good feeling in your gut, and the job “lights up your soul”. If you’re in the wrong role, you might experience “knots in your tummy”, and the stress may even take a toll on your physical health.

Take a step back

It’s important to take a step back and look at the full picture to assess whether you’re in the right or wrong role for you. Christina shared some questions you can ask yourself to reflect:

• Is this right for me?
• What do I like about it?
• What don’t I like about it?
• How does it make me feel?
• Is it impacting my relationships?
• Is it impacting my life?

When to leave

As easy as it is to tell yourself to ‘suck it up’, this will likely only prolong the inevitable. “It’s important to honour… [your feelings] and not put yourself through any additional stress that you don’t need to,” Christina explained. “If you’re anxious, you’re getting sick, if it’s affecting your relationships – then you know that you need to do something about it”.

Adjusting your mindset

The good news? There are ways to turn a wrong-fit role into a right-fit. “It’s about changing how you actually speak to yourself. Reframe the language and… you can turn it into the right fit,” Christina said. If you feel like you can’t do a task or don’t understand what you need to do, put your hand up and ask for help.

“Then you can see that you can do it… this will continue to build your confidence, and… [that job] can become the right fit.” Christina emphasised if a job is completely wrong for you, a mindset shift won’t help. This is when you should seriously consider leaving.

When you can’t leave

Unfortunately, leaving your job immediately isn’t always an option, but there are some ways you can improve your day-to-day. Finding someone you connect with at work can significantly boost your mood. Try talking to someone you trust about how you’re feeling to get a different perspective on things.

If you can, Christina suggested trying to remove yourself from the work environment completely during your break times. Sometimes going for a walk or getting some fresh air can ease your anxieties, helping you to “come back with a fresh set of eyes”.

The grass is always greener

It’s easy to be misled by social media. I’m sure you’ve seen the aesthetically pleasing ‘Day in my life as a creative director’ TikToks and wondered why your own nine to five wasn’t comprised of colourful catered lunches, dress fittings and PR gifts. Remember social media is always just a highlight reel. Try thinking about what success means to you. Maybe it’s a certain job title or an annual dollar amount – defining this will help to give you a purpose to strive for.

For advice on whether a job is right for you, head here.