The career changer may receive a great gift after leaving a job. What has been repressed, returns. We are all complex individuals; the employer may only need to hire part of our potential. In some jobs, the worker may come to understand that he is not to think, feel, or evaluate what happens, “just follow my instructions, repeat after me!” When this happens, the worker likely hides parts of his or her personality. Freud and his followers have called this act “repression.” Repression always robs of us our energy and enthusiasm. The career changer gets some of this energy and enthusiasm back, realizing what they have hidden for years before.

One of my colleagues has toiled for years in an oppressive job. His work only valued part of his talent; this job was not an integrating experience for Thomas personality.  He rightfully felt that the job only valued part of him. As an artist and an MBA, is it any surprise that he was frustrated to work there?