askST Jobs: I’m burnt-out at work. Should I change companies or switch careers?

In this series, business journalist Timothy Goh offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to The Straits Times’ Headstart newsletter.

Q: I’m burnt-out at work. Do I need a new employer or a new career?

Burnout usually occurs when people exhaust themselves in a task, routine or role that consistently exceeds their capacity, leaving them struggling to keep up.

But this kind of exhaustion differs from the “chronic depletion” that comes from being stuck in a misaligned role, said Dr David Leong, chairman of PeopleWorldWide Consulting.

“The danger isn’t the feeling itself; it’s misreading its signal about the burnout,” he said.

“In a misaligned role, you can hardly catch up because you are performing above your limited capacity, and if you are underpaid, this’ll likely cause dissonance and you’ll likely explore a new role that gives you job satisfaction.”

Dr Leong said employees should consider whether breaking projects up into smaller, manageable layers restores their sense of control. If it does, the issue may lie with the workflow rather than the job itself.

He added that employees can tackle these layers one at a time, as it is often the sense of being overwhelmed that fuels burnout.

They should also consider whether their exhaustion stems from the amount of work or from a deeper misalignment of values.

“If you still believe in the mission, the issue may be resourcing, pacing or management, which can often be addressed within your current role,” said Dr Leong.

“It may also help to examine whether your sense of self-worth is tied too closely to your performance at work... If your confidence collapses whenever productivity dips, you may be in a role that rewards a burnout culture, which is unlikely to be sustainable or fulfilling in the long run.”

Ms Ratna Juita, chief executive of learning and development consultancy The Mindgem, said that if an employee’s exhaustion is tied to workload, leadership style, unclear expectations or a lack of recognition, it may point to role or organisational burnout.

“In such cases, the core profession may still suit you, but the environment does not,” she added.

On the other hand, if employees feel emotionally detached from the work itself, struggle to find purpose in the core tasks of the profession, or cannot imagine doing this type of work even under ideal conditions, that signals something deeper.

“When the issue is not the company but the craft, you may need a career pivot,” said Ms Juita.

“It is also worth examining whether the burnout stems from broader life strain – chronic stress, caregiving responsibilities or prolonged overwork can distort how we perceive our careers,” she said.

Dr Leong said that before abandoning a career, employees should explore adjacent roles, side projects or sabbaticals.

A three-month internal transfer can also offer more clarity than a prolonged job search.

“The question is not ‘Am I burnt-out?’, but ‘What is this burnout telling me about my fit (for the job), my boundaries and my next evolution?’” said Dr Leong.

“If you feel you are burnt-out in an unsustainable way, it may be the culture you need to walk away from because it can affect your health and well-being. In such cases, looking for a new career may be helpful,” he added.