If you’re waking up on a Monday with a nagging sense of “Is this it?”, you might be in career limbo. It’s that uncomfortable middle ground where you’re not unhappy enough to resign tomorrow but not energised enough to feel you’re building something meaningful. In 2025’s competitive market, many professionals across finance, tech, healthcare and beyond find themselves here.
The good news: limbo is a signal, not a sentence.
How to recognise career limbo
- Autopilot days: Work is competent but flat; you’re delivering, not developing.
- Stalled progression: Promotions keep drifting into “next quarter”.
- Misaligned values: The organisation’s priorities no longer match what motivates you.
- Low challenge or learning: Your skill curve has plateaued; feedback is infrequent and vague.
- “Golden handcuffs”: Pay and perks are good, but the role no longer fits your goals.
Practical steps to get unstuck:
- Run a career audit (30 minutes).
Split a page into two columns: Energises me vs Drains me. Use the last four weeks’ tasks. Patterns will reveal where to double down and what to phase out or redesign. - Clarify your next hypothesis, not a lifetime plan.
Replace “What’s my five-year plan?” with “What’s the next 12-18 months that would grow me the fastest?” Pick two or three capabilities you want to be known for (e.g. stakeholder management, data storytelling, people leadership). - Map skill gaps.
Scan three job ads you’d love in a year’s time. Highlight the repeated skills. Choose one technical and one soft skill to build now. Book a course, a mentor, or a project to practise them. - Design micro-experiments at work.
Ask for a small stretch: run a retrospective, co-lead a client pitch, or fix a pain point with a two-week sprint. Quick wins refresh your narrative and confidence. - Speak to three people in roles you want.
Short, targeted conversations beat generic “networking”. Ask: What mattered most in landing the role? What would they learn earlier if they could? Which achievements carried weight? - Refresh your story.
Update your CV and LinkedIn to lead with outcomes (“reduced month-end by 2 days”, “lifted NPS by 9 points”), not duties. Build a short “career pivot” paragraph that links your past wins to your future direction. - Set a 30-60-90 day plan.
30: learning and stakeholder mapping.
60: deliver one visible win.
90: quantify impact and decide: double down internally or move externally.
When it’s time to move on
If you’ve tried to reshape your role and repeatedly hit structural blockers—no headroom, mismatched culture, or limited learning—changing environment may be the growth you need. Staying put out of habit is a choice too; make it consciously.
How MARS Recruitment can help
Career moves are easier with a guide. Our consultants in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth live in the market every day. We can help you:
- Benchmark your value against current salaries and benefits.
- Access the hidden job market before roles are advertised.
- Position your narrative for hiring managers, not just HR systems.
- Prepare for interviews with role-specific coaching and honest feedback.
If you’re in career limbo, take one small step today: run the audit, book the conversation, refresh the CV. Let momentum do the rest. When you’re ready, reach out to MARS Recruitment for a confidential chat. We’ll help you turn “Is this it?” into a clear, confident next move.
[DISCLAIMER] The information provided in this article is for general, informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Individuals are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified career coaches or advisors when navigating career transitions.
