Hi there, it’s Jill!

Today, let’s talk about a question that stirs up a lot of anxiety for professionals at every level: Is there such a thing as a “wrong” move in your career?

Over the past seven years, I’ve switched across four job functions — and each transition taught me something new about this question. Every time I pivoted, I found myself revisiting this topic, arriving at fresh perspectives as my own vision evolved.

So today, I’d like to share a few lessons I’ve learned. My hope is that they’ll help you find your own answer when you’re deciding whether a move is right for you.

Let’s dive in.

Vision Comes First

When you’re considering a job change, it’s important to pause and ask: Does this align with my bigger career vision?

That’s a challenging question — partly because “vision” sounds abstract, and partly because, early in our careers, most of us don’t have a clear sense of what’s truly out there. We tend to be surrounded by people with similar backgrounds, doing similar work, solving similar problems…

What feels “right” is often simply what’s familiar.

This is why we sometimes struggle to make confident decisions about career moves: we’re unclear about where we want to go and why we want to go there.

A clear vision acts like a north star. It doesn’t have to be perfect or final — it can and should evolve over time — but it gives you a reference point for asking: Does this move bring me closer to what I really want?

In the next sections, I’ll break down how I clarify my vision: by understanding my core skills, knowing what motivates me, and filling in gaps through research and conversations.

Take a Fair Look at Your Skillset

We’re often rewarded for what we’re naturally good at — your strengths.

Whether you’re a recent graduate or a mid-career professional, there are things you can do with ease that others might struggle with.

For example, you might:

• Have strong communication skills and enjoy coordinating people and tasks

• Excel at technical skills, especially if you come from a STEM background

• Be great at planning or building roadmaps to keep projects on track

• Thrive on research — tackling complex questions independently

• Be an excellent storyteller who can promote ideas persuasively

• Have an eye for detail and catch errors others overlook

• Love uniting a team to deliver shared goals

What you’re good at isn’t always the same as what you enjoy — though they often overlap. Your strengths form your core advantage — your competitive zone.

Over time, honing these skills makes you better at what you do, harder to replace, and more confident in where you stand.

Know What Motivates You and Brings You Satisfaction

If your strengths are the “features” of your career, your motivation is the fuel.

What kinds of tasks make you feel energized and fulfilled? What kinds of outcomes bring you genuine satisfaction?

For example:

• Deep technical problem-solving or coding

• Analyzing data patterns to predict trends

• Owning a project end-to-end and driving it to completion

• Having a direct dollar impact on the business

• Building smooth, positive working relationships

When you’re evaluating a new role, ask: Does this job give me fulfillment — not just this year, but for years to come?

Sometimes the next move isn’t your dream job — it’s a stepping stone that moves you closer to where you want to be. If it aligns with your longer-term vision, it’s not time wasted — it’s progress.

That’s the power of having a vision. It gives you space to make “side moves” or “backward moves” that actually accelerate your path in the long run.

Gather as Much Information as You Can

Finally, no amount of introspection replaces the practical step of collecting real information about the options ahead of you.

One big reason career decisions feel scary is because of what we don’t know. Removing that layer of uncertainty solves most of the questions that keep us stuck.

When you’re exploring a new industry or role, ask:

• What’s the core responsibility of this job?

• What skills or experience are required to succeed?

• Who else has made this transition — and how did it go?

• What does the career path look like after this move?

• Why does this move make sense given where I am now?

Whenever I plan a big career change, I have these questions in mind. The more conversations I have and the more I learn, the clearer my vision becomes — and the more confident I feel about my next step.

When it comes to network with people, please refer to these two articles:

• The 4-Part Networking Framework That Helped Me Change Careers

• How to Network with Executives (with Checklist)

Finally, to Loop Back to the Initial Question

So — is there really any wrong move in a career?

A better question might be: Is this move a thoughtful one? Does it align with my goal?

And that, in turn, depends on knowing what your vision is, and being willing to revisit it as you grow.

Keep exploring. Trust that every step, even the detours, can help you get clearer about where you’re truly meant to be.

Cheers,

— Jill

Founder of Anchor Growth Newsletter