Advice for Potential Career Change: What to Consider

Thinking about your next step at work can be stressful—especially when you’ve invested years with one company. If you’re seeking career change advice, you’re not alone. Many professionals feel torn between waiting out a promised promotion and exploring new paths—often with family or personal considerations in play.

Should You Stay or Go? Core Factors to Weigh

Staying put versus looking elsewhere is rarely black and white. Here’s a rundown of practical points worth considering:

• Growth Opportunities: Are future promotions realistic without major sacrifices?
• Work-Life Balance: Would switching jobs improve stability—or just bring new challenges?
• Market Value: How does your current salary stack up against similar roles elsewhere?
• Relocation: Is moving (again) really worth it for your goals?
• Cultural Fit: Does the company still align with what matters most to you?

It’s normal to question whether loyalty will pay off or just lead to more frustration if leadership keeps shifting the goalposts.

Navigating Promotion Setbacks and Uncertainty

After nine years with one company and multiple cross-country moves already under your belt, it’s understandable to feel disappointed when “sure thing” promotions vanish last minute. This isn’t uncommon; companies sometimes overpromise due to shifting business needs or internal changes.

Before deciding on a major move (or staying put), ask yourself:

• How often have promised roles fallen through?
• Is there transparency about advancement paths?
• If relocation is required again, is that something you’re truly willing to do?

Checking sites like Glassdoor can help compare salaries and employee experiences at competitors.

Exploring Alternatives Without Burning Bridges

A mid-career pivot doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Your management experience—even if it’s “only” in food service—translates well into many industries:

• Retail Operations Management
• Customer Success Lead
• Training and Development Coordinator
• Franchise/Area Manager roles in other sectors

Relevant skills include people management, budgeting, operations oversight, conflict resolution, and team building—abilities that transfer across fields.

Sites like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offer data on salaries and growth prospects for various management roles (BLS Management Occupations). Networking through LinkedIn or professional groups can also uncover “hidden” opportunities nearby.

Bouncing Back from Disappointment: A Quick Story

One manager I know spent nearly a decade with a national restaurant chain. She turned down two distant relocations hoping for an area director role closer to home—only for those opportunities to evaporate last minute due to corporate restructuring. She eventually switched industries altogether—landing a regional sales manager job at a logistics firm (with no more forced moves). The learning curve was steep at first but her leadership skills carried over—and after two years she was earning more than she would have in her old field.

Your Age and Education Aren’t Dealbreakers

At 34 with an associate degree in an unrelated field—and real-world management experience—you’re still appealing to many employers. More companies value hands-on leadership over formal credentials than ever before (SHRM on hiring for skills). Age-wise, you’re ahead of many entry-level applicants and still young enough for long-term growth.

If higher education feels like an obstacle, some online certificate programs can boost your appeal without years of study.

A Few Steps Before You Decide

Not sure which way to go? Try these actions first:

• Update your resume with all quantifiable results.
• Reach out discreetly to recruiters who place managers in your area.
• Lurk on job boards targeting management positions (like Indeed or LinkedIn Jobs).
• Tally up must-haves vs nice-to-haves for both work and life outside work.
• If possible, talk candidly with mentors inside and outside your industry.

Testing the waters doesn’t lock you into leaving—it just arms you with better information.

The Bottom Line—and One Last Question

Career loyalty can be rewarding but shouldn’t trap you if growth stalls or personal costs rise too high. There’s no harm in exploring what else is out there while still giving your all at work.

If another promising opportunity appeared tomorrow—with better work-life balance and similar pay—would you take it? Or would hesitation hold you back?