The mistake I made leaving Nike (and what it taught me about job hunting)

When most people decide they want a new job, they do the same thing.

They jump on LinkedIn. They call a few recruiters. They start applying for roles that look interesting. Then they go through the interview process, get offered something… and take the job.

On the surface, it feels like progress. But a lot of the time it leads people into roles that don’t actually suit them. I know this because I made exactly this mistake myself.

When I left Nike for my “dream job”

Years ago I was working as Brand Director at Nike. I had been there for eight years and I genuinely loved my job. I worked with brilliant people, the work was exciting, and I enjoyed going to work every day.

Then one day a company approached me.

I wasn’t job hunting. But they headhunted me for a role that sounded incredible. It felt like a dream opportunity.

So I went after it.

I interviewed hard. I pushed for the job. Eventually they offered it to me.

Nike even made a big counteroffer to try and keep me. But I was convinced this new role was my dream job, so I decided to leave.

The problem is… about a week into that dream job I knew in my gut it was the wrong place for me. I remember sitting there thinking something didn’t feel right. But I had just left this amazing job at Nike. I told myself I had to persevere. Surely it would get better.

Unfortunately it didn’t.

I was miserable. And the founder of the company could see that I was miserable as well. At the end of my probation period he gave me one week’s notice.

Within the space of a couple of months I went from Brand Director at Nike to unemployed. It was devastating.

Why most people make this mistake

When I look back on that experience now, I can see exactly what went wrong. I never took the time to get real clarity about what environments I actually thrive in.

The company I left Nike for was the complete opposite of what suits me.

It was a tiny team. The brand was unknown. There was almost no marketing budget, which meant I couldn’t do the big campaigns I loved. And the founder was a narcissist.

Within weeks I was questioning everything.

Was I even good at marketing?
Was I in the right career?

When you are in the wrong environment, even very talented people will struggle. It completely destroys your confidence.

The fix: get clarity first

After that experience, I finally did the work I should have done before leaving Nike. I spent time really understanding my personality, my values, and what actually drives me at work.

What I realised is that I thrive in big global companies.

I understand how they work. I enjoy navigating complex organisations. I love being part of a large team and working on campaigns with real budgets. And I love building brands that people recognise.

Once I had that clarity, I reset my job hunt. And that plan eventually led me to Apple.

I remember walking into Apple on my first day feeling nervous. It’s Apple after all. It can be pretty intimidating. But within two hours I knew I was in the right place.

And I loved working there for five years.

The lesson

The difference between the wrong job and the right job is huge. In the wrong environment, you struggle and start questioning your ability.

In the right environment, you thrive.

That’s why clarity is the most important step in any job hunt. Before you start applying for roles, you need to understand the environments where you do your best work.

Because the goal isn’t just to get a job. It’s to get the right one.

If you are thinking about making a move and want help getting clear on what the right role and environment looks like for you, the Creative Career Level Up programme might be the right support.

Check out more details, including testimonials, on our website here

Or use the link below to find out whether the Creative Career Level Up is the right fit for you.