Too many people stay in jobs that drain their souls because they are terrified of taking the ‘wrong step’. They see it as a dichotomy. Either they stay, or they find the perfect dream job (that’s a lot of pressure on their shoulders!). As a consequence, they stay stuck.
Life is too short to be stuck. And if the leap to the next big thing feels too far, build a bridge (nice metaphor, right? 😏 ).
A bridge job is a temporary or transitional role that helps you move from where you are now to where you want to go next, without making an all or nothing jump. It might look like:
👉 Joining an NGO a few days a week
👉 Taking a simple, kind job that covers your basics like a nice team, flexibility and a good manager while you reset
👉 Freelancing with a couple of clients you love working with
👉 Working part time as a yoga instructor…
The goal is not to find your forever dream job. The goal is to get your energy back while gaining perspective (and some money). A good bridge job can:
✅ surround you with new, kind people
✅ help you learn complementary skills
✅ calm a fried nervous system
✅ buy you time to reflect and recalibrate your direction
✅ remind you that work does not have to hurt.
Many people worry about how it will look on their CV. But in today’s non linear world, with reorganizations, layoffs, gaps…these roles are completely normal.
And if you are worried about what people will say, here is a secret. Most people care far less about your CV than you think, especially if you live in an international place outside your usual circles.
I have seen this work many times. One client left a draining corporate role, worked part time in her favorite cafe in Amsterdam, and three days a week at an NGO. A few months later, with her confidence and energy back (and without the pressure of burning her savings), she landed a product management role she loved.
So if you are stuck waiting for the perfect next move, remember this. Sometimes, you do not have to leap, you can just build a bridge! You got this 💪
Too many people stay in jobs that drain their souls because they are terrified of taking the ‘wrong step’. They see it as a dichotomy. Either they stay, or they find the perfect dream job (that’s a lot of pressure on their shoulders!). As a consequence, they stay stuck.
Life is too short to be stuck. And if the leap to the next big thing feels too far, build a bridge (nice metaphor, right? 😏 ).
A bridge job is a temporary or transitional role that helps you move from where you are now to where you want to go next, without making an all or nothing jump. It might look like:
👉 Joining an NGO a few days a week
👉 Taking a simple, kind job that covers your basics like a nice team, flexibility and a good manager while you reset
👉 Freelancing with a couple of clients you love working with
👉 Working part time as a yoga instructor…
The goal is not to find your forever dream job. The goal is to get your energy back while gaining perspective (and some money). A good bridge job can:
✅ surround you with new, kind people
✅ help you learn complementary skills
✅ calm a fried nervous system
✅ buy you time to reflect and recalibrate your direction
✅ remind you that work does not have to hurt.
Many people worry about how it will look on their CV. But in today’s non linear world, with reorganizations, layoffs, gaps…these roles are completely normal.
And if you are worried about what people will say, here is a secret. Most people care far less about your CV than you think, especially if you live in an international place outside your usual circles.
I have seen this work many times. One client left a draining corporate role, worked part time in her favorite cafe in Amsterdam, and three days a week at an NGO. A few months later, with her confidence and energy back (and without the pressure of burning her savings), she landed a product management role she loved.
So if you are stuck waiting for the perfect next move, remember this. Sometimes, you do not have to leap, you can just build a bridge! You got this 💪
