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It can happen to the best of us—one day you wake up and suddenly realize that what once felt exciting about your job now feels…well, haunted. For some reason, the spark that used to drive you has dimmed, and you can’t remember the last time you felt truly inspired at work. If this sounds familiar, you may be afflicted by a “career curse”—a season of stagnation where motivation fades, opportunities seem scarce, and your work starts to feel more draining than rewarding.
The Warning Signs
You’ve Stopped Learning
If your daily tasks feel too “automatic” and you can’t remember the last time you learned something new, it could be a sign of a larger problem. When your role no longer challenges you, or your company doesn’t provide opportunities to expand your skills, it can lead to burnout disguised as boredom.
You’re Phoning It In
It’s normal to have “off days,” but if you’re constantly disengaged, it might be more than just a passing mood. You might find yourself watching the clock, doing the bare minimum, or struggling to care about outcomes that once motivated you.
You Feel Invisible at Work
If you’re contributing but not being recognized, or if you’ve stopped raising your hand for projects, it could mean you’ve fallen into a passive rhythm. Indeed, career “curses” often thrive in comfort zones.
You Can’t Picture What’s Next
One of the clearest signs of a rut is when your career trajectory feels foggy. If you’re not sure where you’re headed, it’s easy to stay stuck in the same place longer than you intended.
Breaking the Curse
Revisit Your “Why”
Before taking any major steps, ask yourself why you chose your career in the first place. What excited you about it early on? What’s changed? Sometimes reconnecting with the purpose behind your work, or realizing that your priorities have evolved, can help you recalibrate your goals.
Learn Something New
Professional growth often requires shaking things up a bit. Consider enrolling in a workshop, pursuing a certification, or joining a professional development group in your field. If your company offers learning stipends, take advantage of them.
Don’t limit yourself to your current job description—some of the most meaningful growth comes from learning something adjacent to your role. For example, a marketing professional might take a data analytics course to better understand campaign metrics, or an engineer might explore leadership development to prepare for management opportunities. The key is to reignite curiosity.
Find (or Reconnect With) a Mentor
It can be really tough to break a career curse alone. Mentorship (whether formal or informal) can help you gain perspective, identify blind spots, and uncover opportunities you might not see yourself. If you haven’t talked to your mentor in a while, reach out. If you don’t have one, start by identifying someone whose career you admire. Most professionals are happy to offer advice if you approach them with genuine curiosity and respect for their time.
If you’re having trouble, try devising some specific questions to ask when reaching out to a potential mentor. You might ask, “What helped you navigate a period of burnout?” or “What skills do you think will be most valuable in the next few years?” For more on finding a mentor, check out our previous advice here.
Take On a Side Project
Sometimes, the best way to rekindle motivation is to build something outside of your regular routine. This could mean joining a cross-departmental initiative at work, volunteering your skills for a nonprofit, or even starting a personal side project that ties into your professional interests.
Side projects can give you fresh energy, help you develop new skills, and remind you of what you love about creating contributing to a goal. They also make great resume boosters, showing future employers your initiative and adaptability.
Network with Purpose
Networking doesn’t have to mean cold LinkedIn messages. It can mean attending industry panels, joining an alumni group, or reconnecting with a former colleague. The point is to engage with people who are passionate about their work.
When you surround yourself with people who are energized by their careers, it’s easier to reignite that same drive in yourself. Ask them what they’re learning, what trends they’re watching, or how they’ve stayed motivated. You might discover a path or perspective you hadn’t considered before.
Dispelling a career curse isn’t about tearing down everything you’ve built—it’s about reimagining what’s next. You might decide to double down in your current field with renewed focus, or you might use this as a launching point toward something entirely new. Either way, remember that careers aren’t linear, and feeling “stuck” is often just a sign that you’re ready to grow.
Rob Porter is an editor at Vault.
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