“I don’t want to take this frustration into my next job”

Today I’m analysing the situation of Florence.

Florence recently reached out to me because she had accepted a new role and wanted help with two things. First, how to resign well from a job she feels deeply frustrated by. And second, how to stop repeating the same pattern in her career.

She told me she has a recurring habit of getting excited about a role, giving it a real go, and then, over time, becoming more and more frustrated. Usually it starts when she realises the leadership isn’t great, the recognition isn’t there, and the people around her aren’t operating at the standard she expects.

By the time she leaves, she’s not just ready for a new job. She’s carrying a lot of resentment too.

What’s the challenge?

Florence’s challenge isn’t just the resignation. It’s the pattern.

She works hard, cares deeply, and wants to do a great job. But over time, frustration builds when she feels unsupported, unseen, or stuck working around people who are not delivering. And when that happens, she starts to think the grass might be greener somewhere else.

The risk is that if she doesn’t understand her part in that pattern, she could take the same frustration straight into the next role.

How can she move forward?

The good news is that Florence already has something powerful: self-awareness.

She knows this next move is a chance to do things differently. Not by becoming a completely different person, but by being more intentional about how she shows up.

This new role can be a clean slate. A chance to build strong relationships early, take feedback on board, and focus not just on doing great work, but on how that work is experienced by other people.

My advice

1. Leave with your head held high

Even if you’re desperate to say what you really think, don’t.

A classy resignation is not for them. It’s for you.

Stay positive. Thank people. Focus on the opportunity ahead. Years from now, you will feel so much better knowing you handled it well.

2. Treat the new role like a reset

Don’t just walk into the new job hoping it will be better.

Decide who you want to be there.

How do you want people to describe you? How do you want to show up when things get stressful? What patterns do you want to leave behind?

A new role is a brilliant chance to reinvent yourself a little.

3. Focus on relationships as much as the work

This was the biggest thing for Florence.

In her next role, the work matters, of course. But the relationships matter just as much.

Get coffee with people. Ask how they like to work. Understand the key players. Learn the culture. Bring people along for the ride.

Because often, career growth is not just about the quality of the work. It’s about the soft skills around it too.

If Florence can do that, this next move could be more than just a new job. It could be the start of breaking an old pattern for good.

If you are ready to make your next move and want support doing it, the Creative Career Level Up might be the right fit for you.