What That 'Vague Sense of Unease' Tells You: Rethinking Your Career in Your 40s
“To be honest, I’ve had a vague sense of unease about my current job ever since I started working.”
This was shared by a 46-year-old client. They had been working diligently for over 20 years at the company they joined right after graduation.
However, they had never really taken the time to think about the true nature of that unease. “I have to do my best where I’ve been placed.” “Everyone feels this kind of unease. This isn’t the time to be selfish.” “I have a family, and stability is what matters most.”
They said they had been working as hard as they could while telling themselves things like that.
The moment you suddenly want to stop and pause
But recently, they started thinking things like: “Is it really okay to just keep going like this?” “It’s about time I properly re-examine my own life.”
When they felt that way, they came to me for career counseling. I believe it must have taken a great deal of courage to face these feelings head-on.
The state of “I can do it, but it doesn’t feel right”
As I listened carefully to their story, it became clear that they possessed distinct strengths.
The ability to organize things logically
The ability to explain things clearly to others
A strong sense of responsibility
By leveraging these, they had achieved solid results in their work to date. However, those strengths and the nature of their current job simply did not seem to match. To put it another way, it was a state of “I can do it, but it doesn’t feel right.”
The client had been vaguely aware of this, but had tried not to look at that sense of unease. Now, it had shifted into a feeling that they “must face it properly.”
Three steps we took
To rethink their career, the first things we worked on together were the following three steps:
1. Taking stock of your experience and skills
We re-examined in what situations they had demonstrated their strengths, what they were good at, and what value they had provided to those around them, including things they could “just sort of do.”
2. Rediscovering the passion of your student days
What still fascinates them today is the field of research they were devoted to as a university student. “Back then, before I knew it, I was doing it day and night. I would get so absorbed that I’d lose track of time, to the point where people around me would say, ‘You’re pulling an all-nighter again, haha.’”
That feeling of being immersed in something without even realizing it. I am starting to explore, little by little, how I can leverage that as a future possibility.
3. Contact the internal career counseling office
Thinking that changing jobs is the only way has its pros and cons. If you like your current company and want to contribute, 'looking for what you can do in your current environment before changing jobs' is also a very viable option.
I decided to first consult with the internal career support department to see if there were any options for transfer or reassignment.
Discomfort is an important sign from yourself
Through this consultation, I felt something anew.
Because people have strengths, they can manage to get by to some extent in any place. But what you can work hard at and what fulfills you do not necessarily align.
That is why, when a moment comes where you suddenly want to stop and pause, it might be the time to listen to your own voice.
You, too, try asking yourself these questions
Do you feel that you are utilizing your strengths in your current job?
Since when have you had that 'vague sense of discomfort'?
What do you think a job that truly fulfills you looks like?
The courage to find your 'next stage'
Like this client, I felt great courage in the attitude of trying to find the 'next stage' without denying the past.
Rethinking your career in your 40s is never too late. Rather, because you have the foundation of your experience so far, I believe you can face yourself more deeply and find a path that truly fulfills you.
To you who are currently feeling a sense of discomfort. That feeling is a sign with real meaning. When you start to think, 'Maybe I can take better care of myself,' that is surely the first step.
Why not talk about your career discomfort instead of worrying alone? Let's explore your 'next stage' together.
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