Know Your Type to Make the Right Career Move

Many people reach a point where they start thinking, “Maybe I should quit and do something new.”

But the real question isn’t just Should I quit?—it’s What’s actually driving this feeling?

For some, it’s a sign that something in their current role needs to shift. For others, it means they’re ready for a bigger change. And for some, it’s simply time for another evolution in their journey.

Understanding where you stand helps you decide what kind of change you actually need.

The Three Types of Career Changers

1. Builders – Thriving Within the System

Builders have worked hard to succeed in an established system. They studied hard, got into a good school, landed a solid job, and climbed the ladder. The system worked for them, and they’ve built a career that looks successful—and often feels that way too.

But over time, dissatisfaction starts creeping in—whether it’s boredom, frustration, or a sense that something is missing. They may wonder if they need to leave, but at the same time, they hesitate because they’ve invested so much into where they are.

🔹 Examples of Builders:

• The high achiever who followed the “right” path—got the grades, the degree, the well-paid job—and is doing well, yet sometimes feels bored or uninspired.
• The corporate professional who enjoys their role but feels a nagging sense that they’re meant for something more.

🔹 Often, what they really need is to:

• Adjust their role to focus on work they actually enjoy.
• Find ways to grow without starting over.
• Shift how they work instead of where they work.

2. Awakeners – Ready for a Big Change

Awakeners start as Builders—they followed the proven path, worked hard, and succeeded. But now, their suppressed dissatisfaction has become impossible to ignore. They don’t just want small tweaks—they feel a pull toward something completely different.

They know staying in the same place isn’t an option anymore, but stepping into the unknown feels risky and overwhelming.

🔹 Examples of Awakeners:

• The successful professional who starts to think, “I don’t want this to be my whole life.” They’ve built a great career, but the thought of doing the same thing forever feels suffocating.
• The high achiever who realizes they’ve sacrificed family, passions, or personal fulfillment for their career—and now feel an urgent need to change.

🔹 Often, what they really need is to:

• Explore what’s next without the pressure of having it all figured out.
• Take their first steps toward a major career or life transition.
• Build confidence in leaving behind what no longer fits.

3. Pioneers – The Resilient Changemakers

Pioneers don’t wait for change to come to them—they create it. They naturally embrace less walked paths, choosing risk and exploration over security and predictability. Instead of waiting for a clear plan, they jump in, experiment, and figure things out along the way.

While this gives them an advantage, it can also feel isolating, because most people around them don’t operate this way.

🔹 Examples of Pioneers:

• The person who moved to a foreign country alone at a young age, navigating everything on their own.
• The first in their family to pursue higher education, with no blueprint or support.
• The entrepreneur who chose an unconventional path rather than following a traditional career.

🔹 Often, what they really need is to:

• Stay steady and focused while navigating uncertainty.
• Have a thought partner who understands their nontraditional path.
• Build resilience when external validation isn’t there.

How I Help

Each type of career changer needs a different kind of support to move forward.

• For Builders, I help them redefine their role, regain motivation, and explore new challenges within their current career—often without needing to quit.
• For Awakeners, I guide them through the exciting but uncertain transition of stepping into something new with confidence.
• For Pioneers, I walk alongside them as a thought partner and support system, helping them stay clear and focused while carving their own path.

What’s Your Type?

Do you want support in navigating your next step? Join the Women Leaders Club—a space where high-achieving women gain clarity, strategies, and the support they need to create careers that truly fulfill them.