Feeling Stuck? Here's How to Find Your Ideal Role in 2025
January 14, 2025
As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your career path and consider your next move. The start of a new year always feels like a natural moment to reassess what’s working, what’s not, and where to go next. Maybe you feel the same way—or maybe you’re simply feeling restless in your current role. Either way, with the average person spending over 33% of their life working, it’s essential to approach our career decisions with intention.
In this blog, I’ll share some of the key considerations that have helped me identify my next big career moves along the way, along with personal insights from my own journey—a year that included everything from layoffs to a career sabbatical to exploring fractional marketing jobs. Whether you’re burned out, bored, or just ready for a new challenge, I hope these reflections help you activate growth in your own career.
While the start of a new year is always a great time to reassess your career goals, there are tangible reasons to explore new opportunities in 2025 beyond the calendar shift. Companies’ optimism around the job market is finally starting to rebound after a challenging couple of years, and more companies are looking forward to hiring again. ZipRecruiter’s recent data shows:
It’s exciting to see this shift in the market, especially after many of us have experienced a prolonged period of uncertainty. I know many of you may be holding on to a role you’re not passionate about out of fear of the unknown—but if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to make a move, this could be your year.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned during my career transitions last year was the importance of mindset. When I was laid off from a B2B SaaS startup and returned from my three-month sabbatical, my initial reaction was to dive headfirst into finding the next paycheck. I interviewed for every role that came my way and accepted every client opportunity without pausing to ask if it aligned with my values or career goals.
Looking back, that scarcity mindset—the belief that I needed to grab whatever was available—burned me out quickly. I was saying yes to everything, and it wasn’t serving me. But as I took a step back and reflected on what I truly wanted, I realized the power of an abundance mindset. Instead of thinking, “I need a job right now,” I started asking, “What kind of opportunity is right for me in this season of life?”
Here are a few questions that helped me adopt an abundance mindset:
In my experience, by focusing on what you want instead of what you need, you can make career decisions that align with your values. And trust me, it feels a lot better to say yes to opportunities that light you up.
One of the biggest decisions I faced last year was figuring out what type of employment structure best fit my life. I explored both full-time roles and fractional opportunities, and both came with pros and cons. Here are some key differences I’ve found:
Fractional work offers incredible flexibility. You control your calendar, choose your clients, and can even take time off without asking for permission. Personally, I loved this freedom—I took Fridays off for months and worked remotely from several amazing locations, both domestically and internationally.
Full-time roles, while sometimes offering remote options, often come with more rigid schedules and location expectations. According to ZipRecruiter, hybrid and in-office roles are becoming more common:
Think about what kind of flexibility you need right now. Are you craving more freedom in your schedule, or does the structure of a full-time role sound better?
Full-time jobs typically offer more stability—you get benefits, PTO, and a steady paycheck. Fractional work, on the other hand, can come with higher income potential but also higher risk. There are no guaranteed paychecks, benefits, or PTO. You also need to constantly manage your business development to keep income flowing.
For me, one of the biggest challenges was realizing that I had to work every hour in exchange for getting paid. I had spent years building a healthy work-life balance where I could fully unplug during vacations. Suddenly knowing that I wasn’t getting paid while on vacation this year was tough. But on the flip side, the higher hourly rate of fractional work meant I could earn more in less time, which gave me back some of that freedom.
Ask yourself:
Your preferred work style also plays a role. Fractional work often involves juggling multiple clients and projects, which requires a lot of context-switching. I learned (the hard way) that managing more than three clients at once can be exhausting and mentally draining.
Full-time roles, on the other hand, provide more focus and deeper engagement with one team. Personally, I missed (and still miss) that deeper connection with a single team when I was fractional.
Think about how you prefer to work:
If you’re exploring a marketing leadership career, consider whether a fractional CMO role suits your need for flexibility or if a traditional full-time leadership role better aligns with your goals.
Another important factor to think about is the stage of the company you want to work for. I’ve worked at companies in all stages, and each comes with its own unique challenges and rewards. Over time, I’ve categorized companies into three distinct stages: Build, Scale, and Sustain. Each stage is vastly different, so it’s important to consider which aligns best with your work style and career goals.
In the Build stage, the primary question companies are asking themselves is: Can we survive and find product-market fit?
These are typically early-stage startups with little to no funding. The culture is fast-paced and high-risk, and from a marketing perspective, it’s a lot of product marketing and go-to-market experimentation.
When I joined a startup in this phase, I learned more in a few months than I had in years at a larger company. But it could also feel chaotic and unstable. In my opinion, this stage is best for those who thrive on solving problems quickly and don’t mind the uncertainty that comes with it.
The Scale stage is all about answering: Can we grow predictably and sustainably?
These are early to mid-sized companies with decent amounts of funding or healthy revenue streams. The focus shifts toward expanding revenue, building infrastructure, and growing teams.
This is my favorite stage because it’s all about taking something that works and scaling it. I love operational excellence, which is critical at this stage. If you’re in B2B marketing leadership, the Scale stage offers a lot of opportunities to accelerate growth and make a significant impact without the constant chaos of the Build stage.
Companies in the Sustain stage are typically asking: Can we stay relevant and efficient?
These are large, established companies that focus heavily on operational efficiency and continuous innovation to remain competitive. They’ve already built their core products and processes, and now the goal is to refine and optimize.
If you want stability and the chance to work in a highly funded, sophisticated environment, the Sustain stage could be a great fit. These companies often have large marketing teams and more resources, but they also tend to move slower and have more bureaucracy. It can be a trade-off between job security and agility.
Thinking about the company stage is essential because each phase requires a different mindset and skill set. Understanding where you thrive will help you align your career goals with the right opportunity.
The industry you choose matters more than you might think. I’ve worked in both B2B services and B2B SaaS, and I’ve noticed stark differences across how marketing is perceived to impact the business, the level of marketing investment, and the overall sophistication of marketing efforts.
Here’s what to consider:
Does the industry invest heavily in marketing? Are marketing teams robust and well-funded, or are they operating with minimal resources? Understanding the average size of marketing teams and the typical investment levels can give you a clearer picture of what to expect.
What type of marketing is prioritized in this industry? Is it more traditional, like print and events? Or is it focused on digital-first strategies such as content marketing, demand generation, and social media? Some industries leverage a combination of both, which may align better with your skill set and experience.
Who is the audience in this industry? Are you selling to technical leaders, sales teams, or marketing executives? If you’ve worked with similar personas before, transitioning into a new industry can feel much smoother. Knowing your audience well—their pain points, goals, and decision-making processes—can give you a huge advantage.
For example, when I moved from B2B services to B2B SaaS, I already knew the sales and marketing personas we were targeting, which made the transition feel more seamless. Understanding your target personas is crucial in any marketing leadership career, but it’s especially helpful when you’re considering a switch to a new industry. It can reduce the learning curve and allow you to make an immediate impact.
Lastly, assess the company’s vision and culture around marketing. This can make or break your experience in a new role.
Pay attention to how the company views marketing. Are they invested in it as a strategic growth function, or do they see it as a tactical support role?
I’ve had interviews with companies where it became clear they didn’t value marketing beyond basic demand-gen tactics. That’s a huge red flag if you’re looking for a role where you can make a strategic impact.
Ask questions like:
Look at the company’s investment in marketing. Do they have a budget and headcount that reflect their stated commitment to the function?
If they say they value marketing but don’t back it up with investment, proceed with caution.
As you consider your next career move in 2025, take time to reflect on these key areas:
The average person spends 33% of their life working. Don’t settle for a job that drains you. Instead, be intentional about finding a role that aligns with your values, goals, and the season of life you’re in.
And if you found this post helpful, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague who’s also thinking about their next big career move. Here’s to activating growth in the year ahead!
I know what it’s like to feel the pressure of being a strategic marketing executive for your business. From scaling B2B companies to leading growth for SaaS startups, I’ve experienced firsthand what it takes to move the needle and deliver incredible marketing ROI. Now, I’m here to help you do the same. Whether you need a strategic marketing plan, expert coaching, or team training, I’ll bring the fresh perspectives, hands-on guidance, and proven frameworks that’ll help you lead with confidence.
