Stop Settling: How to Build a Career You Won’t Outgrow

When I left my first post-pivot role, I thought I’d settled. The job had checked the boxes: decent pay, decent team, decent future. But it gnawed at me. That creeping sense that I wasn’t doing the work I cared about, that I’d built something on sand instead of rock.

Walking away wasn’t easy. But here’s the thing no one tells you about pivoting into tech (or anywhere new): the first step is about survival; the next is about alignment. It’s not just getting in the door—it’s finding the room you want to stay in.

If you’re staring at a job board right now or wondering whether your resume font screams “competent but approachable,” pause. Stop trying to shout into the void. Start building relationships. Start asking yourself tougher questions. Which companies feel worth the leap? Which problems would you actually want to solve on a Monday morning?

The right job won’t land in your inbox because of keywords or clever phrasing. It’ll happen because someone vouched for you. Because you showed up to the right conversation. Because you played the long game.

And when you find yourself hesitating—when that first “decent” offer comes in and the fear of waiting threatens to win—remember this: settling isn’t the goal. The real win is saying yes to a future you won’t outgrow.

If this hits close to home, I’d encourage you to join the conversation in the comments or share this post with someone who’s stuck in their own pivot. Your next step might start here.