u/Broad-Midnight3019

I’ve been at my current company for almost three years, and I constantly go from “I’m quitting today” to “Maybe I can survive another month.”

The environment is political, I’m not growing, I’m not on track for a promotion, the work isn’t exciting anymore, and I feel like my career has stalled.

I’ve also been aggressively applying for the past year and a half. I have almost eight years of experience and a strong resume, but the market keeps lowballing me. Most opportunities are a level below where I think I should be, and recruiters tell me I’d have to come in at a lower level—even for work that’s essentially the same. I’d also be taking a $70k+ pay cut.

So I’m stuck.

Do I stay in a toxic but well-paying job and hope something better eventually comes along? Or do I take a significant pay cut, gamble on a healthier environment, and hope it’s worth it?

**Update**: Thanks so much everyone for your guidance and feedback. I really appreciate your time and the perspectives you shared with me. I’m not understanding why there’s so many downvotes…I understand this may come off as privileged but that truly wasn’t my intention. I’m genuinely just struggling with this decision, I don’t have anyone I can go to in my personal life for a pulse check, and I’m so grateful we have communities like these on Reddit to get some clarity and advice. Wishing everyone the very best in this job market.

I’ve been at my current company for almost three years, and I constantly go from “I’m quitting today” to “Maybe I can survive another month.”

The environment is political, I’m not growing, I’m not on track for a promotion, the work isn’t exciting anymore, and I feel like my career has stalled.

I’ve also been aggressively applying for the past year and a half. I have almost eight years of experience and a strong resume, but the market keeps lowballing me. Most opportunities are a level below where I think I should be, and recruiters tell me I’d have to come in at a lower level—even for work that’s essentially the same. I’d also be taking a $70k+ pay cut.

So I’m stuck.

Do I stay in a toxic but well-paying job and hope something better eventually comes along? Or do I take a significant pay cut, gamble on a healthier environment, and hope it’s worth it?

**Update**: Thanks so much everyone for your guidance and feedback. I really appreciate your time and the perspectives you shared with me. I’m not understanding why there’s so many downvotes…I understand this may come off as privileged but that truly wasn’t my intention. I’m genuinely just struggling with this decision, I don’t have anyone I can go to in my personal life for a pulse check, and I’m so grateful we have communities like these on Reddit to get some clarity and advice. Wishing everyone the very best in this job market.

I’ve been at my current company for almost three years, and I constantly go from “I’m quitting today” to “Maybe I can survive another month.”

The environment is political, I’m not growing, I’m not on track for a promotion, the work isn’t exciting anymore, and I feel like my career has stalled.

I’ve also been aggressively applying for the past year and a half. I have almost eight years of experience and a strong resume, but the market keeps lowballing me. Most opportunities are a level below where I think I should be, and recruiters tell me I’d have to come in at a lower level—even for work that’s essentially the same. I’d also be taking a $70k+ pay cut.

So I’m stuck.

Do I stay in a toxic but well-paying job and hope something better eventually comes along? Or do I take a significant pay cut, gamble on a healthier environment, and hope it’s worth it?

I’ve been at my current company for almost three years, and I constantly go from “I’m quitting today” to “Maybe I can survive another month.”

The environment is political, I’m not growing, I’m not on track for a promotion, the work isn’t exciting anymore, and I feel like my career has stalled.

I’ve also been aggressively applying for the past year and a half. I have almost eight years of experience and a strong resume, but the market keeps lowballing me. Most opportunities are a level below where I think I should be, and recruiters tell me I’d have to come in at a lower level—even for work that’s essentially the same. I’d also be taking a $70k+ pay cut.

So I’m stuck.

Do I stay in a toxic but well-paying job and hope something better eventually comes along? Or do I take a significant pay cut, gamble on a healthier environment, and hope it’s worth it?

I know this might sound privileged because not everyone can take extended time off, but I’d really appreciate some perspective.

I have approved time off from August 7 to September 14 (vacation, a remote work week, and a few sick days). The problem is I’ve spent the last year telling myself not to take a real vacation until I have a new job because I don’t want to come back to this one. At this point, I’m not even sure I want to come back after taking the time off.

Part of me wants to backpack somewhere like Georgia, Armenia, or Kazakhstan and actually disconnect. The other part feels guilty spending the money when I’m trying to leave my job and wonders if I should save the vacation for later.

I’m completely burned out. I’ve been doing what feels like 3–4 people’s jobs for 2 years, while also job hunting on top of it. I’m exhausted, constantly irritated, and honestly don’t even want to walk into the office anymore.

If you were in my position, would you take the time now before you completely burn out, or keep pushing until you land another job? I’m worried that if I don’t take the break, I’ll regret it—and I’m equally worried I’ll regret spending the money if I end up unemployed.

I know this might sound privileged because not everyone can take extended time off, but I’d really appreciate some perspective.

I have approved time off from August 7 to September 14 (vacation, a remote work week, and a few sick days). The problem is I’ve spent the last year telling myself not to take a real vacation until I have a new job because I don’t want to come back to this one. At this point, I’m not even sure I want to come back after taking the time off.

Part of me wants to backpack somewhere like Georgia, Armenia, or Kazakhstan and actually disconnect. The other part feels guilty spending the money when I’m trying to leave my job and wonders if I should save the vacation for later.

I’m completely burned out. I’ve been doing what feels like 3–4 people’s jobs for 2 years, while also job hunting on top of it. I’m exhausted, constantly irritated, and honestly don’t even want to walk into the office anymore.

If you were in my position, would you take the time now before you completely burn out, or keep pushing until you land another job? I’m worried that if I don’t take the break, I’ll regret it—and I’m equally worried I’ll regret spending the money if I end up unemployed.

Does it activate career?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?

I’ve been job hunting for about a year and a half and I’m approaching my third year in my current role.

In that time, more than 20 people have left my team. Almost everyone I started with is gone, including many of my friends. Every time someone leaves, I find myself thinking, “When is it going to be my turn?”

I’ve done everything I can think of. I earned my MBA while working full-time, optimized my resume, networked, cold messaged people, practiced interviewing, and made it to final rounds. Yet most of the time I either get silence, rejections, or opportunities that feel underleveled.

The hardest part is that I feel completely stuck. Three years ago, I was excited about my career. Today, I drag myself to work. The politics, constant workload, and lack of progress have left me exhausted. I feel overwhelmed all the time and like I’m never fully on top of my work.

What’s frustrating is that I’ve always been ambitious. Earlier in my career, I was able to move every couple of years and keep growing. Now it feels like I’ve hit a wall. I watch other people get promoted, leave, or move on to better opportunities while I’m standing in the exact same place.

I’m not really looking for resume advice. I’m more curious whether anyone else has gone through a period like this where they desperately wanted out, did all the “right” things, and still felt completely trapped.

How did you stay sane while waiting for something to finally move?