Should I Make a Career Move in 2026? What to Consider

We’re about 46 days into the New Year. At this point you’ve either kept up your resolutions (go ahead and pat yourself on the back for that), or you’re looking to shift gears entirely. Maybe you’ve had an epiphany that your current job is not where you want to be, and it’s time to explore other options, and you’re ready to see what’s out there.

The question is: do you make a move this year or wait?

Now, you consider yourself to be a relatively informed individual. You watch the news and understand that the economy is currently filled with uncertainty, causing fear and anxiety among the general public.

Despite all of this, you may still be tempted to take action regarding your situation.

The problem is we tend to make career moves when we’re in stress mode, and when our world starts to crumble, like when we become the casualty of a layoff or a health crisis forces the decision on us. We may even get triggered by the Sunday scaries, just itching to find any way to ditch our jobs, and, like clockwork, we rush to polish our resumes and run to the most popular job boards to escape. We throw ourselves face-first into a job search, unknowingly setting ourselves up for failure.

It’s time to break that habit in 2026, and here’s why: The most successful mid-career transitions happen before the breaking point, not after, which will require you to be strategic and proactive and, most importantly, open-minded with your method. But before we discuss how to make a successful career move, let’s take a deeper dive into what NOT to do so that you can save your time and sanity.

What Most People Try (And Why It Doesn’t Work) 

People may fall victim to many of the same mistakes when it comes to leaving their jobs for something different. They think these “traditional approaches” will give them a leg up on getting out of their situation. But it doesn’t. Little do they know, it just digs them a deeper hole.

Below are the top 3 methods you need to avoid doing at ALL costs.

Mistake 1: Applying to hundreds of jobs

This tactic may have worked once before in the beginning of your career, but when you’re plotting your next move as a mid-career professional, you’re going to end up right back where you started - a role that’s either too junior for you or one that requires credentials you may not have. It’ll be a lose/lose situation and a major time waster.

Mistake 2: Running back to school

Unless you’re certain this is the right move, don’t do it. And I don’t mean you spent 20 hours on the website, thought the campus looked nice, and decided to register. A $30K-$100K investment before you know if the new field fits is a risk you can’t take. You’ll end up acquiring massive amounts of debt and be more miserable in a role that wasn’t even meant for you. Double the trouble.

Mistake 3: Waiting for clarity

One of the worst things you can do is “wait it out” until your situation improves. Staying stagnant won't get you anywhere. You’re just letting more time and energy pass you by when you could be doing something about it. If planned right, you can figure out what you want and make a move at the same time. Don’t let fear paralyze you.

So what do all of these approaches have in common? They don’t work because they require you to bet everything before you have any real data.

What Actually Works 

The alternative isn't about making a leap. It's about designing a strategic transition. You need a method that’s flexible and lets you test different possibilities without quitting your job. And life design coaching can help you gather real data (not just endless research) through customized experiments, both experiential and observation-based, to help you determine what fits. When you’re able to test different pathways and get an up-close-and-personal look at different careers, lifestyles, or alternative design options, you can make a more informed decision without wasting time and money. It’s not about  "following your passion" or waiting for certainty, but treating your career like a certified live project, with research, testing, and iteration. That way, you get clarity about what actually works for YOU + a plan to get there without gambling your financial security.