Have you ever thought…
“I’m not quite ready to apply yet”
“Maybe I’ll wait until things settle down”
“This role looks interesting, but I’m not sure I’m qualified enough”
If so, you’re not alone.
I work with smart, driven mid-career professionals every week.
And one of the biggest things holding them back isn’t a lack of experience or skills.
It’s the subtle ways they’re getting in their own way.
Here are three common signs of self-sabotage I see and what to do instead:
1. You’re waiting until everything feels perfect
You want your resume, LinkedIn, and pitch to be flawless before you start.
But clarity often comes from taking action.
Start taking action in your job search this week, even if everything isn’t “perfect”.
You’ll learn and gain momentum faster than waiting.
2. You’re staying in research mode to avoid discomfort
It feels safer to scroll job boards than send a message to a real person.
But your next opportunity might come from a conversation, not a posting.
So try this: reach out to one person. A former colleague, someone in your target company, or a friendly industry contact.
Start a conversation with a wonderful human 🙂
Start with baby steps and build from there.
Discomfort is the path to exponential growth!
3. You’re taking silence as a sign you’re not good enough
When a few applications don’t get a response, it’s easy to assume you’re doing something wrong.
Often, the issue is strategy, not ability.
Get help with auditing your resume and LinkedIn.
Are they positioning you for the role you want?
Do they focus on your results, not just responsibilities?
If this sounds familiar, there’s nothing wrong with you.
But it might be time to do things differently.
I help mid-career professionals uncover exactly what’s keeping them stuck and build a strategy that gets results.
Ready to make progress again?
Let’s talk about your next move and the best strategies to get you there.