Feeling Overwhelmed at work? You’re not the only one.

Feeling stuck in your job is more common than you might think. Across New Zealand, more people are starting to question whether their current work is still the right fit.

According to SEEK data, 52 percent of Kiwi workers say they’re considering a career change, with 37 percent hoping to make a move within the next 12 months. LinkedIn has reported a noticeable increase in career pivots, especially among professionals aged 25 to 39. SEEK also details job searches typically spike on Mondays and Tuesdays, which says a lot about how people are feeling when the work week begins.

52 percent of Kiwi workers say they’re considering a career change. -SEEK.

Whether it's stress, burnout, a mismatch of values, or just a sense that something's not quite right anymore, you're not alone.

It can be challenging to figure out what’s next

It’s not always clear what to do when your job no longer feels right. You might be doing everything “right” on paper, but still feel drained or unmotivated. A 2024 AUT Wellbeing at Work survey found that over 30 percent of New Zealanders report high levels of work-related stress. Meanwhile, burnout has become more widespread, with the World Economic Forum ranking it among the top global workforce challenges this decade.

So if your energy is low or you’ve lost your sense of direction, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human, and possibly ready for a shift, even if you’re not sure what that looks like yet.

What a shift might look like for you?

You don’t need to make a big dramatic leap. Often, the first step is just pausing to ask some honest questions.

You could start by thinking about:

• What energises you (and what drains you)

• Whether your current work aligns with your values

• The kind of impact you want to have, and whether you're getting the chance to make it

• What skills or experiences you want to build next

A 2023 survey by the New Zealand Government’s Careers.govt.nz site found that people who regularly reflect on their work are more likely to make positive career decisions. That reflection doesn't need to be complicated — but it does need to be intentional.

You’re allowed to want more

It’s easy to talk ourselves out of change by saying things like “I should be grateful” or “It’s not that bad.” But those thoughts can keep us stuck. It’s not selfish to want work that feels meaningful. It’s not unrealistic to want to use your strengths in new ways. And it’s absolutely normal to feel unsure at first.

Plenty of people in New Zealand are quietly rethinking their careers — not because they’ve failed, but because they’ve grown.

If this sounds like you, take a moment to pause. Reflect. And consider what your next small step might be. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.