I've got a job, but something isn't right: finding your path forward

Before making any decisions, it is crucial to explore exactly why you are unhappy. Career dissatisfaction typically stems from a few key factors: 

People and relationships 

Interpersonal dynamics significantly impact workplace satisfaction. Research by Gallup shows that managers are responsible for at least 70% of the variance in team engagement, while colleague interactions play the most instrumental part in job satisfaction. The people we work with directly influence both our job satisfaction and the quality of our daily lives. 

Company culture and values 

Misalignment between your individual values and organisational priorities can cause significant discomfort. Values are the beliefs, principles, or standards that guide you such as autonomy, creativity, achievement, work-life balance, or sustainability. Research shows that organisational culture has a positive impact on wellbeing, especially when there is a culture of creativity, fairness, and demonstrable colleague enthusiasm. 

Daily work tasks 

Tasks that do not engage your strengths or interests lead to disengagement. Career strengths are capacities that energise you, that you are good at (or have potential to be good at), and that contribute to achieving personally meaningful goals. Research consistently shows that harnessing strengths enhances adaptability, coping abilities, job satisfaction, and overall wellbeing. Insufficient opportunities to apply your strengths daily may lead to dissatisfaction. 

Growth and development 

Initially stimulating roles can become stagnant once mastered. Does your job offer a sense of accomplishment and development? Lack of variety in work is one of the strongest predictors of job dissatisfaction. 

Career transitions involve significant personal change. Understanding your readiness using established change models can help you identify possible actions. 

Kolb's Learning Cycle suggests meaningful change occurs through four stages: 

1. Concrete Experience (Feeling): Experiencing dissatisfaction without analysing why.
2. Reflective Observation (Watching): Gathering information and perspectives about your situation.
3. Abstract Conceptualisation (Thinking): Developing theories about what might work.
4. Active Experimentation (Doing): Testing changes in low-risk ways. 

Using the Kolb model the following example activities could occur in each stage: 

• Concrete Experience (Feeling): Attend careers fairs and networking events to gather initial impressions and engage in informational interviews with professionals to experience different work environments first hand using tools such as Ask an Alum.
• Reflective Observation (Watching): Complete self-assessment tools such as Profiling for Success and VIA Character assessments; conduct thorough research using Career Zone resources to compare career options and gather multiple perspectives; apply for Career Mentor scheme conversations to understand day-to-day role experiences.
• Abstract Conceptualisation (Thinking): Develop strategic career action plans with specific accountable timelines and goals; systematically evaluate different career paths against personal criteria such as your values, interests, skills and strengths; audit your current skillsets to prepare for the next stage of action, doing.
• Active Experimentation (Doing): Participate in virtual internships through platforms such as Forage and Target Grad Sims; engage in work shadowing opportunities and volunteer roles to test career interests in low-risk environments, explore paid in-person internships. Invest in your continuous professional development (CPD) by attending skills webinars bookable on Handshake events to enhance methods to communicate your credentials to employers such as through CVs, application forms, and interviews. Consider becoming an “Ask an Alum" volunteer to mentor others while contributing success stories to alumni networks.

Note, for a much more detailed exploration of stages of change, suggested activities and reflective exercises see our in-depth guide in our further resources section. 

If your dissatisfaction stems from people 

Workplace relationships significantly impact job satisfaction. Consider: 

• Building workplace support communities: Develop "relational cadence" by observing how your colleagues prefer to work and adjusting your approach to fit theirs.
• Utilising mentoring: Acquire trusted internal mentors for fresh perspectives on team dynamics.
• Showing gratitude: Small gestures such as thank-you notes, and verbal recognition strengthen relationships.
• Developing emotional intelligence: Practice active listening, self-awareness, and empathy to navigate complex workplace dynamics. 

If you dislike your daily work 

When tasks feel misaligned with your strengths or interests: 

• Explore job crafting: Negotiate with managers to reshape responsibilities to better match your strengths.
• Investigate internal mobility: Many organisations prefer internal transfers to losing talent entirely.
• Develop skills strategically: Use your current position to build capabilities that align with your desired direction to leverage a future move. 

Deciding whether to make a complete career change requires both rational analysis and gut instinct: 

• Use conscious reasoning: Create decision-making matrices comparing career options against your key criteria. See our in-depth guide in our further resources section for more details on harnessing this tool or click here for a brief outline.
• Trust your gut instinct: Evaluate feelings of excitement, fear, and emptiness about potential changes.
• Apply design thinking: Follow a five-stage process of empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test new career directions. View this video by Stanford Uni on design thinking by clicking here.

Sometimes circumstances prevent immediate job changes. Consider these strategies: 

Job Crafting 

Even within existing roles, you can make conscious changes to improve motivation: 

• Task crafting: Emphasise engaging tasks while minimising draining ones.
• Relational crafting: Change who you interact with or how you interact.
• Cognitive crafting: Reframe how you think about your job to find more meaning. 

Portfolio career 

Consider developing multiple income streams through part-time work, freelancing, consulting, or creative projects alongside your main role. 

Staying with purpose 

When change isn't immediately possible, focus on cognitive crafting – connecting current tasks to broader values and long-term goals. Document achievements meticulously and strategically to develop your "career capital" for future opportunities. Journaling achievements can create meaning. 

Looking after your wellbeing 

Career transitions are challenging. Prioritise your wellbeing by: 

• Maintaining the perspective that early career positions are rarely permanent.
• Creating clear work-life boundaries.
• Seeking support from career professionals, mentors, and trusted networks.
• Practising stress management techniques. 

Remember that career development is an adventure, not a destination. The skills you develop navigating current challenges will serve you throughout your professional life. 

1. Career development is rarely linear – what might feel as a setback often becomes valuable perspective later. 
2. Thoughtful analysis before action leads to better outcomes – understanding specific sources of dissatisfaction prevents hasty decisions.
3. You have more agency than you might realise – strategic approaches can improve your situation even within constraints.
4. Your first job is not your destiny – career satisfaction develops over time through intentional choices.
5. Effective change follows a learning cycle – moving through experience, reflection, conceptualisation, and experimentation creates sustainable transitions. 

Next steps 

• For workplace relationship issues: explore our networking resources and consider harnessing the observations of mentors. Book a career consultation to evaluate your situation.
• For role reshaping: discuss job crafting strategies with a career consultant.
• For career change: start with Career Zone self-awareness resources and book an appointment with a careers consultant.
• For wellbeing support: access support through your GP and online wellbeing resources. 

University of Exeter Career Zone Resources 

• Career Zone Research and Planning Resources 
• Self-awareness resources: Understand your strengths, interests, and values
• Networking guidance: Build professional relationships effectively 

Alumni mentoring: Connect with experienced professionals in your field. You can use Ask an Alum and the Career Mentor Scheme for up to three years after you have graduated. 

• Ask an Alum
• Career Mentor Scheme
• LinkedIn alumni community
• Handshake alumni community 

Career workshops: Regular careers advice sessions are held online which alum can access for up to three years after you have graduated 

Career Zone Podcast Episodes 

• Career Development & Skills 
  • Getting your point across
  • How to ask for help in the workplace
  • How to motivate others
  • The importance of lifelong learning
  • Navigating career change
  • Reflection: Why is it important for employability
  • Transitioning from study into a first role
  • What are career management skills? 

• Workplace Dynamics & Culture 
  • Cultivating active listening in the workplace (release TBC)
  • Emotional Intelligence in the workplace
  • Ethics in the workplace
  • Managing challenging workplaces (release TBC)
  • Resilience in the workplace
  • Resolving conflicts in the workplace
  • What is organisational culture?
  • The Power of mentoring
  • Unpacking workplace dynamics: personalities and change (release TBC) 

Additional Resources 

• Profiling for Success: free diagnostic tools for strengths, values, and interests
• Mindless Academy and Forage: virtual learning platforms for impact-led career programs 

External Resources 

• TED Talk: "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown
• TED Talk: "The Growth Mindset" by Carol Dweck
• Volunteering opportunities through Exeter Guild and Penryn Student Union