You’re Frustrated. Here’s Why.

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders: misdiagnosis. It’s why you feel stuck…and are still stuck in a career path you’re not enjoying. Careers are tricky things. You can believe you have one problem, only to find out years later that it was a symptom, and the deeper, more significant root to your problem has gone unaddressed.

Don’t let a misdiagnosis keep you stuck. Read about these six common misdiagnoses and learn four steps that will solve your frustration—for good.

Common Misdiagnosis #1: “I haven’t found my passion yet.” Passion, while valuable, is only one piece of a much larger picture. In fact, according to the classic book for job seekers, What Color Is Your Parachute, there are no less than seven essential elements to a well-matched career. By that math, your interests (often referred to as “what you’re passionate about”) only accounts for about 14% of what leads to career fulfillment. It’s probable that other important elements that drive your career satisfaction are out of alignment too, and an exclusive focus on “finding your passion” will lead to more frustration. Never mind that the historical meaning of the word “passion” refers to what you’re willing to suffer for. Many people ignore that there will be uncomfortable and painful seasons in a career path—even in one that is very well aligned with who you are.

Common Misdiagnosis #2: “My company just isn’t paying me what I’m worth.” So, if your company gave you a $10,000 raise tomorrow, that would solve your issue? Maybe…but probably not for long. While it’s often true that companies underpay employees—studies show that most employees don’t leave for another job exclusively for more money (a major exception being if they’re working a low-wage job). You should know what your market rate is based on your skills and experience. If you don’t, there are a plethora of great resources online to help you gauge what you should be paid, which you can access with a simple Google search. Even if you’re not being paid what you’re worth, consider: how did you get into that situation? Proactive career management should limit issues like being underpaid for years at a time. If you discover that you’re being paid under market rate—and you’ve been unsuccessful at obtaining a salary adjustment, consider what other factors (inside and outside of your control) that led you here…and what you can do to reach a better situation. Since career misalignment often shows up in more areas than just in your salary, this diagnosis may be partially right but incomplete.

Common Misdiagnosis #3: “I’m not valued at my company.” This may be true. And when someone says they’re not valued, it usually indicates a mismatch between the employee’s needs and the values of the company, felt as friction or discomfort with the employment on both sides. A mismatch like this can run deep and express itself in several ways, but it usually reveals you have one or more unmet needs based on your values: for flexibility, for economic security, for a higher income, for challenge, for recognition, or any of a dozen other examples. When your needs and a company’s culture clash, there’s rarely a solution within the organization. Perhaps the problem isn’t you, or the company, it’s that you and the company don’t fit. While that appears on the surface like you’re not valued, the real issue is that you’re not well matched with the organization due to the different priorities you have versus the priorities your employer has for you. You need to identify which work activities, work environments, and work boundaries are important to you so you can avoid repeating this mistake (such as landing at another company where there is a poor culture fit again) in the future. In the meantime, starting a job search may be a logical choice—it will be important for you to find a better match than last time.

Common Misdiagnosis #4: “My boss is a jerk.” There are millions of poor managers out there. If you’re working for one, it’s rough. There’s often not much you can do to repair a relationship and improve your job satisfaction if the problem isn’t on your end. But a problem that can’t be fixed can’t be solved…it can either be tolerated or traded. If you have reached the point where continuing to work with your manager is intolerable, don’t stay in that role. You have to find a way to work under someone else, even if that means leaving the company. Sometimes, the frustration you’re feeling is fixed when you quit. But has this been thematic? If everywhere you work, you end up in a toxic or unsafe working relationship with your manager, there might be a deeper issue with your vetting process while interviewing employers. Or you could even be dealing with unresolved trauma that is drawing you into work contexts that feel familiar but are unhealthy. Take a compassionate look at yourself and see if there is anything you can change or do to make it less likely you’ll end up with another bad boss.

Common Misdiagnosis #5: “I keep applying but there aren’t any jobs!” The jobs are out there. One lesson from The Great Resignation was that there are two job markets: the one for the kinds of jobs that no one wants (which is why people left them) and another one which is highly competitive for the best jobs. Add to this the secret job market—80% of jobs aren’t online…they’re filled internally through internal promotions, transfers, and even through “a friend of a friend.” If you’re only applying to jobs online and not networking your way into a job, you have fallen for the common misconception that this is an effective method of job hunting. In most industries, applying online is the least effective way to find a job, because you’re digging through the jobs no one else wanted and/or that the company couldn’t find anyone in their network to fill. That’s not to discount a job that’s been posted online—it may still be a fantastic opportunity and a great fit for you—but trying to obtain a job this way may be why you haven’t found one yet. Another issue could be that you don’t have the right skills or track record for having done that job already. If you look like a risky hire to an employer, they’ll pass you over in favor of someone who appears to be less risky. You can work to appear less risky, which could involve building a personal website with a portfolio of your work, modifying how you tell your career story, and more.

Common Misdiagnosis #6: “I don’t need a mentor. My manager is very supportive.” Do you have a sponsor? A coach? A therapist? Peers to listen and to care? Support at home and in life? It’s easy to believe that a little bit of support is enough. A meaningful support system isn’t a single point, it’s a vast network—including all areas of your career and your personal life. This is felt most by entrepreneurs who are going into entrepreneurship solo. But anyone can feel it. It’s shocking how many young professionals don’t understand the deep investment that most high performers and executives make in themselves to achieve what they achieve. Do you think your CEO could function without their executive assistant? If you said “no,” you’re probably right. Individuals with a successful and high performing career have a robust and wholistic support system that helps them to function at their peak while dodging possible career stoppers and stallers. You may not have considered it important to have a relationship with a financial advisor, insurance professionals, a personal trainer and house cleaners, but it’s likely that your CEO has all that support and more. They’ve realized the secret to success is to create leverage in their career by investing deeply in themselves to obtain the support they need to reach their potential. If you have only a single mentor, you don’t have nearly enough support to navigate your career path.

The Four Steps To Solve Your Misdiagnosed Career Frustrations Issue:

Step 1: Admit you feel stuck. Denial won’t do anything for you. Running from your frustrations won’t help. You’re only exacerbating the issue by refusing to face it. It’s not insurmountable. But you have to admit you have a problem or else you won’t give it the energy and time it needs to source an effective solution.

Step 2: Admit you’ve misdiagnosed your issue. When you try the same solution over and over, you’ll end with the same result. Try on a new diagnosis. To do this, it takes courage to admit the story of reality you’ve been telling yourself wasn’t accurate—or at least not fully. Own your misdiagnosis and start to seek out a better one.

Step 3: Use differential diagnosis. This is a term that nurses use in the healthcare industry. It’s why they’re so effective at discovering and treating the real issue you’re facing, such as when you go to the emergency room with stomach cramps, and it turns out to be far more serious. Sending you home with Advil and an order to rest in bed won’t help you if your appendix is in trouble. Similarly, if your career is stuck, you need to dig to the root of the issue and determine what the core problem is…or problems are. You may need or want help with this step, because the ability to diagnose a career issue requires an expert understanding of the potential pitfalls for careers—and their effective solutions. There may not be an obvious solution, and what worked for your friend may not work for you. Which leads to step four…

Step 4: Gain support. Career frustrations are a common reason individuals hire a career coach. They don’t have a clear roadmap for a career redesign or enough resources inside their network to help them redirect. It’s normal. Our environment today is exceedingly complex, between the effects of the pandemic, remote work, the Great Resignation, and recession, it’s a wonder any of us have a path forward. The best way to forge your path is unique to you—which is why advice is rarely helpful. That said, to avoid the mistakes above, you will want to increase the level of support you’re receiving.

Are you feeling frustrated in your career—and aren’t sure how to properly diagnose your issue? Gain the support you need to get to the root of the problem, and fix it for good.