Janelle E. Wells, Ph.D., and Doreen MacAulay, Ph.D.
Our (In)visible Work
Do I have what it takes for this job?
What does “you’re not the right fit for this position” even mean?
Time is running out; I may have to just take the next soul-crushing job because I’ve got to pay the bills.
Each of these questions are thoughts that may have run through your mind during a career transition.
Career transitions are often framed as moments of opportunity, growth, reinvention, and uncertainty. Whether you are transitioning because of downsizing, growing out of your current role, or just needing a change, there is invisible work that comes with pivoting to something new. The mental load required to move from one professional identity to another is often underestimated. We also can’t forget the cognitive, emotional, and relational labor experienced in making the transition.
With the prevalence of career transitions, scholars have taken note. Most recently, research from the Journal of Vocational Behavior and the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology reveals three factors that shape the career transition experience the most:
- the type of transition you’re making
- whether it’s planned or unexpected
- how things turn out in the end
Each of these influences not just what you do during a transition, but how much internal effort it takes to get through it.
The first factor is the type of transition itself. Are you staying within the same industry, moving into a completely new one, or doing something that blends the two? Each path brings a different kind of invisible work. You may be questioning your value, or you may need to rebuild your credibility and figure out how your experience translates, all of which can take both confidence and persistence.
The second factor is whether the transition is something you planned or something that happened. From burnout to new opportunities, even when you choose to make a change, there’s still a lot of behind-the-scenes work like managing uncertainty, second-guessing your decisions, and preparing yourself mentally for what’s next. When change is unexpected and hits like this headline, “8,000 employees laid off,” the invisible work intensifies. You’re not only planning your next steps, but also processing loss, navigating financial pressure, and rebuilding your sense of stability at the same time.
Finally, how the transition turns out also shapes the taxing experience. Even when things go well, there is still effort involved in settling into a new role, proving yourself, and regaining confidence. Success doesn’t remove the invisible work; it simply changes its form. And when things don’t go as expected, the work can shift again, requiring resilience, reflection, and often another round of adjustment.
