When and Why Taking a Career Risk Is Worth It

Taking risks in your career can feel intimidating, but it’s often an essential part of growth and success. The right career risk can open doors to new opportunities, higher pay, and faster advancement. On the flip side, poorly calculated risks have the potential to damage your reputation, derail your progress, or leave you feeling stuck.
Learning when to take chances can set you on a path to long-term success. Whether you’re early on in your career or well-established, mastering the balance between bold moves and careful planning is key to unlocking your full potential.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to assess career risks and avoid pitfalls that could hold you back.
- Why taking risks is important for helping you get ahead.
- The types of risks worth pursuing, and when it’s best to play it safe.
When to Take a Career Risk – and When to Walk Away
Taking career risks requires more than just stepping out of your comfort zone—it’s about making strategic moves that can push your career forward. Some risks can lead to valuable growth, others may carry consequences that outweigh the rewards. Learning the potential benefits and pitfalls of risk-taking helps you approach decisions with greater confidence and clarity.
The Benefits of Taking Risks
Some of the most successful professionals got ahead by embracing uncertainty. Whether it's taking on a challenging project or advocating for yourself at work, the right risks can push you toward new experiences, attaining new skills, and achieving career milestones that wouldn’t be possible if you continued to play it safe.
Here are some of the ways taking risks in your professional life can pay off:
- Accelerated advancement. Tackling high-stakes assignments or proposing innovative ideas can demonstrate leadership, problem-solving skills, and initiative. These traits often lead to promotions and increased responsibility.
- Skill development. Taking on projects outside your expertise challenges you to learn new skills, build resilience, and broaden your capabilities—qualities employers value in today’s dynamic job market.
- Increased visibility. Employees willing to take risks that align with organizational goals often stand out to leadership. This visibility can open the door to mentorship, sponsorship, or future opportunities.
- Financial rewards. Calculated risks like negotiating a higher salary, pursuing a stretch role, or exploring entrepreneurial ventures can significantly boost your earnings over time.
When a Career Risk Can Backfire
Not every risk leads to a positive breakthrough—poor timing, lack of preparation, or misjudging an opportunity can turn what seemed like a bold move into a costly mistake. Understanding when a career risk is more likely to hinder than help you can save you from unnecessary setbacks.
Here are some common scenarios where risks can backfire:
- Putting yourself forward for a role without doing your research. Jumping ship into a new role without fully understanding the company’s culture, stability, or expectations can lead to disappointment on both sides. For instance, a higher salary might not be worth risking a toxic work environment or a lack of growth opportunities. Taking a little time to explore potential opportunities can show you whether the risk is worth pursuing.
- Aiming to impress but ending up overcommitting. Volunteering for more projects in an effort to show your boss that you can step up can backfire if you take on more than you can handle. Overcommitting may cause burnout and end up negatively impacting the quality of your work rather than showcasing what you can do. This, in turn, can harm your reputation as a dependable professional.
- Prioritizing personal ambition over collaboration. It’s great to be ambitious, and employers often look out for this trait. However, it can be a risk not worth taking to chase your goals at the expense of the team. Actions designed to boost your own profile but which undermine team cohesion, can alienate colleagues and hinder your ability to succeed in a role.
- Impulsive moves without a plan. Quitting a job without financial stability or transitioning into a new field without proper preparation can create unnecessary challenges and stress. Mitigate your risk by making sure you’re in a stable position and understand what you’re moving into.
How to Assess a Career Risk
Not all career risks are created equal. The key to making smart decisions is knowing how to evaluate risks before acting. Taking chances can lead to breakthroughs, but only if you’re prepared to be strategic. This involves considering the timing, potential outcomes, and how each decision aligns with your professional goals.
Taking Risks Early vs. Later in Your Career
The way you approach career risks often depends on where you are in your professional journey. Risks that make sense in the early years of your career may not be as beneficial later on, and vice versa.
- Early career. This is the best time to take bold risks, as you have fewer commitments and more time to recover from missteps. Pursuing roles in different industries, experimenting with new skills, or relocating for a promising opportunity can help you discover what suits you best. And in some cases these risks can propel your career forward faster.
- Mid-career. With more experience, your risks should be more calculated. At this stage, it’s essential to weigh job security, financial stability, and long-term goals before making a move. For instance, leaving a stable role for a startup might be exciting, but it also comes with greater uncertainty. But there are things you can negotiate to mitigate the size of the risk, or payoffs that make those risk worth it for your individual case.
- Late career. Later on in your career, the risks you take should align with both the legacy you want to build and your retirement goals. At this point, taking a career risk may mean negotiating leadership roles, moving into consulting, or transitioning into a passion industry. However, your financial and professional stability is even more important to secure before making any drastic changes.
Factors to Consider Before Taking a Career Risk
Evaluating career risks at every stage helps you move forward without unnecessary setbacks. Before taking any risk at work, ask yourself these key questions:
- What’s the worst-case scenario? Identify the potential downsides of your decision. If the worst possible outcome is something you can handle or recover from, the risk may be worth taking.
- Does this align with my long-term goals? A new opportunity should move you closer to your ideal career path, not just serve as a temporary escape from dissatisfaction.
- Do I have a backup plan? Having a financial cushion or alternative career option can help you manage risk more effectively.
- Have I sought advice? Talking to mentors, colleagues, or industry professionals can provide valuable perspectives that help you make a more informed choice.
Types of Risks Worth Taking (and When to Go for Them)
Not all career risks are reckless—some are necessary for growth. Below are some risks that can pay off when taken under the right circumstances.
Volunteering for Challenging or Inconvenient Projects
Taking on extra responsibilities—especially ones outside your comfort zone—can help you gain valuable experience, showcase your initiative, and position yourself for promotions. While these opportunities may require extra effort, they can help you build a strong reputation.
- When it’s worth it: If you have the bandwidth to take on more work, volunteering for a high-visibility project can expand your skills and strengthen your reputation within the company.
- When to reconsider: If you’re already at capacity, overcommitting may lead to burnout and lower-quality work, which could have the opposite effect on your career to what you intended.
Switching Jobs or Industries
Changing roles—or even flipping your whole career—can feel like a leap into the unknown, but sometimes staying in a stagnant position is riskier. If your current job no longer offers growth, challenge, or fulfillment, exploring new opportunities can be the best way forward.
- When it’s worth it: If a new job offers better career progression, work-life balance, or aligns more with your long-term goals, making a switch can be a smart move.
- When to reconsider: Jumping into a new role without researching the company, culture, or stability could leave you in a worse situation than before. Make sure that you at least have a cushion to get you through the transition period.
Proposing Big Ideas at Work
Sharing innovative ideas can set you apart and position you as a forward-thinking professional. While it might feel intimidating to challenge the status quo, thoughtful suggestions that improve efficiency, revenue, or team collaboration are often valued.
- When it’s worth it: If you’ve done your research, you can back your idea with data, and it aligns with company goals, pitching a bold suggestion can lead to career advancement.
- When to reconsider: If leadership is resistant to change or the company culture discourages new ideas, pushing too hard could backfire.
Negotiating for More
Many professionals hesitate to negotiate their salary or benefits, assuming their employer won’t budge or fearing they’ll seem ungrateful or unreasonable. However, negotiating is often expected and can lead to significant financial and career benefits.
- When it’s worth it: If you’ve proven your value and can support your request with market research and performance metrics, negotiating can lead to better pay, flexibility, or perks.
- When to reconsider: If the company has clearly stated there’s no room for negotiation or you haven’t yet demonstrated your impact, it may be better to wait until you have more leverage.
Types of Risks Not Worth Taking (and Why)
Poorly timed or impulsive decisions can jeopardize your reputation, job stability, or long-term success. Below are a few career risks that are rarely worth taking.
Behaviors That Harm Your Professionalism
Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets, and certain workplace behaviors can damage it quickly. Overdrinking at company events, gossiping about colleagues, or oversharing personal details may seem harmless in the moment. However, these behaviors can have lasting effects on how you’re perceived by managers and colleagues.
- Why it’s not worth it: Professional relationships are built on trust and respect. Once your credibility is compromised, it can be difficult to regain. Employers value employees who can represent the company well and maintain professionalism in all situations.
- What to do instead: Keep workplace interactions respectful and constructive. If networking at events, be mindful of your behavior and keep conversations career-focused.
Taking on Too Much
Being eager to prove yourself can be beneficial, but overloading yourself with extra responsibilities can backfire. Saying yes to every project or request might make you seem dedicated at first, but it can also lead to exhaustion and decreased performance.
- Why it’s not worth it: Overcommitting can cause stress, missed deadlines, and lower-quality work—ultimately making you seem unreliable rather than ambitious. It may also set unrealistic expectations for what you can handle long-term and set a precedent that you don’t require the associated reward, such as a salary increase or promotion.
- What to do instead: Be strategic about the extra work you take on. Prioritize tasks that align with your strengths and career goals while ensuring you can manage them effectively. If an opportunity is valuable but too time-consuming, discuss a more feasible workload with your manager. If you’re interested in the extra work but can’t accommodate it, consider discussing with your manager how you could take some of the responsibility now to prove your worth for a higher position where the task is incorporated and rewarded appropriately.
Accepting a Job or Promotion for the Wrong Reasons
A high salary or impressive title may seem appealing, but they don’t guarantee job satisfaction. Taking a role without considering how well it aligns with your skills, interests, or values can lead to frustration and regret.
- Why it’s not worth it: A job that isn’t a good fit for you can negatively impact your motivation and performance, making it harder to excel. If you struggle in a role you weren’t ready for, it could also harm your confidence and future opportunities.
- What to do instead: Consider long-term career growth, company culture, and job responsibilities before making a decision. If you’re unsure, talk to people who have worked in similar roles or industries. If you ultimately feel it’s not right for you, walk away.
Quitting Without a Backup Plan
Leaving a job that’s making you miserable may feel like the right choice but walking away without financial stability or a clear next step can put you in a difficult position. While no job is worth sacrificing your well-being, making an abrupt decision without preparation can create more stress in the long run.
Why it’s not worth it: A period of unemployment can strain your finances and make it harder to find the right opportunity under pressure. Without a plan in place, you may feel rushed into accepting another unsatisfying role just to make ends meet.
What to do instead: If you’re considering quitting, build a financial cushion, update your resume, and start networking before handing in your resignation. Consider looking for a new job while still employed to give yourself a smoother transition and take some of the pressure off.
Find a Career Risk That’s Sure to Pay off
Smart career risks can lead to new opportunities, and signing up for Monster to search for new challenges is one of the easiest ones you can take. Upload your resume and attract recruiters actively looking for candidates like you. Activate job alerts to stay informed about opportunities anywhere in the country. Plus, get expert career advice, salary insights, and tools to track your applications, so you can confidently navigate every career risk and decision.