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The Awkward Middle (Career Change time): You Can’t Go Back — But Don’t Know What’s Next....
- pauseandempower
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
You know that feeling? It’s like standing barefoot in the middle of a muddy field: you can’t go back to the role, career or identity you’ve outgrown — but you also don’t know where the path ahead actually starts.
Welcome to the awkward middle.
This is the space many people find themselves in during a career transition: no longer aligned with what they were doing, but unsure how to articulate what comes next. It’s confusing, uncomfortable — and far more common than we tend to admit.
Why the Awkward Middle Feels So Unsettling
One of the reasons this phase feels so destabilising is that we’re often taught to think about careers in linear terms: progression, promotion, next step, repeat. But real lives rarely work like that.
Thresholds describe feeling stuck at work as a signal — not of failure — but of misalignment. Many people reach a point where they are capable, experienced and even successful, yet feel disengaged because their values, interests or energy have shifted over time.
This explains why the awkward middle isn’t always dramatic. There may be no burnout, redundancy or crisis — just a persistent, quiet sense that something no longer fits.
Signs You’re in the Awkward Middle
You may recognise yourself in some (or all) of these:
You know what you don’t want
According to MentorCruise, many people entering a career transition can clearly articulate what they want to move away from — but struggle to define what they want to move towards.
Job searching feels overwhelming or pointless
You scroll job boards, not because you’re excited, but because you feel you should. Nothing feels quite right — either too similar to what you’re leaving or so different it feels unrealistic.
You feel restless, but not desperate
Thresholds note that career dissatisfaction often shows up as restlessness rather than crisis — a sense of boredom, irritation or emotional flatness that’s easy to dismiss but hard to ignore over time.
You can’t answer the “what’s next?” question
When friends ask what you want to do next, your answer sounds vague — even to your own ears. That’s a hallmark of being in the middle rather than at the start or end of change.
Why You Don’t Need a 5-Year Plan (Yet)
One of the biggest mistakes people make in the awkward middle is trying to force clarity too soon.
MentorCruise emphasises that career transitions are rarely solved by logic alone. They require reflection, experimentation and external perspective — especially when someone has been in a role or profession for many years.
Instead of demanding certainty, it can be more helpful to focus on direction.
Practical Ways to Move Forward (Without Panic)
🧠 Ask better questions
Thresholds suggest shifting from outcome-focused questions (“What job should I do?”) to experience-focused ones, such as:
What activities energise me?
When do I feel most myself?
What drains me consistently?
This reframing helps uncover patterns that point towards meaningful change.
📓 Track energy, not productivity
Spend a few minutes each week noting what gave you energy and what depleted it. Over time, this creates valuable insight into what you want more — and less — of in your working life.
🧪 Try low-risk experiments
MentorCruise recommend “career experiments” — small, low-commitment actions such as short courses, volunteering, informational interviews or side projects — to test ideas before making big decisions.
When a Career Coach Can Help
If the awkward middle feels particularly foggy, this is often where coaching becomes valuable.
A career coach can help you:
Clarify your values and priorities
Identify transferable strengths
Break down vague dissatisfaction into actionable insight
Create momentum through accountability
Coaching provides structured reflection and an external viewpoint — both of which are difficult to achieve alone during periods of uncertainty.
How to Choose the Right Career Coach
The Midlife Unstuck podcast offers particularly helpful guidance on finding a coach who is the right fit — especially for mid-career and life transitions.
Key considerations include:
🔎 Relevant experience
Look for someone who specialises in transitions similar to yours, rather than a generic approach.
💬 Psychological safety
You should feel able to be honest, uncertain and vulnerable — without feeling judged.
🧭 Clear process
A good coach explains how they work, what sessions involve and how progress is supported.
💷 Transparency
Clear pricing and expectations are essential for trust and commitment.
Staying Sane (and Even Enjoying It) Along the Way
A few gentle reminders for life in the middle:
You don’t need to have it all figured out to make progress.
Feeling uncertain does not mean you’re doing it wrong.
Curiosity is a valid strategy.
Small steps compound into clarity.
The awkward middle isn’t a dead end — it’s a transition zone. A hinge moment. A pause before something more aligned begins.
Final Thought (not the Jerry Springer kind!)
If you know you can’t go back, but you don’t yet know what’s next, you’re not stuck — you’re becoming. And with reflection, experimentation and the right support, the path forward becomes clearer than you might expect.
You don’t have to figure this out alone — if you’re in the awkward middle and want space to think it through, book a free 30-minute discovery call with me and let’s explore whether I might be a good fit for you and you for me!
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