“It can be difficult not to interpret the situation as a personal failure, even when much of it is circumstantial.”

I had a fairly difficult experience over the past year that I’m still processing.

After several years in financial services, I left a role where I had taken on significant platform and delivery responsibilities. The environment had become increasingly difficult and, after a prolonged period of stress and burnout, I felt that I was gradually being managed out rather than given a sustainable path to continue. I ultimately decided that leaving was the right decision for my own wellbeing and career, and I left on good terms.

The timing was unfortunately difficult. The job market was already slowing, and finding the right next role took longer than expected. I was fortunate to eventually get quite far in another opportunity at a large financial institution earlier in the year. The process progressed through multiple rounds, positive discussions with the hiring team, package discussions and the submission of onboarding documentation. I had effectively planned my next career chapter around the role.

After several months of waiting, however, the organisation ultimately withdrew the opportunity due to internal hiring circumstances.

So the difficult part has been the combination of two things happening consecutively: first, leaving a role after a period of burnout and feeling that I was no longer being given a viable path internally; and then having the next opportunity fall through after an extended recruitment process.

I’m now taking a deliberate career break to reassess what I actually want to build towards, while upskilling and working on some practical AI/product projects. The experience has made me much more conscious of the importance of finding a sustainable environment, rather than simply optimising for the next job title or salary.

I’m sharing this because I suspect there are others who have experienced some version of this: leaving a difficult environment, entering a weak job market, and then having circumstances outside their control extend the period of uncertainty. It can be difficult not to interpret the situation as a personal failure, even when much of it is circumstantial.

The biggest lesson for me so far has been that a career setback can be a combination of personal decisions, organisational dynamics and market conditions, and not necessarily a reflection of your underlying ability or value.