German Special: "Joblife Real Talk - Between Applying, Staying, and Letting Go" with Expert Johannes Günther

Career paths today rarely follow a straight line. They’re full of pivots, pauses, leaps, and learning the hard way. Few people embody this better than Johannes Günther. Johannes shares his journey - one marked not by titles or traditional success, but by honest reflection, bold decisions, and the willingness to walk away when something doesn’t fit. His story is not just about where he’s worked, but how he’s navigated the space between applying, staying, and letting go.

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1. From Uncertainty to Direction

Johannes started out like many others: uncertain of what to study or where to go. He tried two degree programs in Leipzig - both of which he left after realizing they weren’t right for him. It wasn’t laziness or failure. It was the beginning of learning what doesn’t fit. Eventually, he completed a Bachelor’s in Wealth Management, specializing in real estate. A more stable choice, seemingly clear in its outcome.

But then came the pandemic. Job opportunities in the real estate sector dried up, and he was left - like so many - with a qualification and no place to use it. So he did what adaptable professionals do: he pivoted.

2. A Shift into Media - and Fast Growth

Through personal contacts, Johannes entered the media industry - first on the commercial side. It didn’t take long until he transitioned into editorial work. Within a year, he became the editorial lead at a production company creating content for major broadcasters like ProSiebenSat.1 and MDR.

The pace was intense. The work was fulfilling. But behind the scenes, the company was unstable. In 2023, it filed for bankruptcy. Once again, Johannes faced a familiar question: What now?

3. Self-Employment and Market Realities

He chose to keep going - on his own terms. He became self-employed and continued producing. It worked, for a while. But the TV market had shifted. Assignments became scarcer, conditions harder, and freelance work increasingly uncertain.

Still, his network remained strong. When an opportunity opened at a regional TV station, he was asked to come in and build something new. As Editor-in-Chief, he was expected to help establish and lead a brand-new editorial team.

It sounded like a perfect fit - a step up, more responsibility, creative freedom.

But the reality was different.

4. When Letting Go is the Right Move

Johannes soon realized that internal resistance and a lack of support made it impossible to do the job he was hired for. Despite the title, despite the potential, he made a choice that many hesitate to make: he left - after the probation period, before burnout set in.

Why? Because, as he puts it, leaving isn’t necessarily failure. Sometimes it’s clarity.

It’s the clarity that comes when a role promises one thing and delivers another. The clarity of knowing what kind of environment brings out your best work. And the clarity of understanding that a career isn’t built by enduring bad fits, but by moving toward better ones.

5. What Joblife Really Feels Like

Johannes’s story pulls back the curtain on what the modern work experience often looks like - and what job postings never tell you.

He talks openly about poor onboarding, unclear expectations, and being left to "just figure it out." He highlights the importance of real leadership, psychological safety, and mutual respect. Not only what a job pays, but how it treats you. Not only what you do, but how it feels.

He also makes one thing clear: career growth is not always visible on paper. Titles don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes walking away - from a degree, a job, or a company - is the boldest and most necessary move.

6. Why Coaching Matters in Moments Like These

At SalesPro4U, we work with people in exactly these situations. Professionals with experience, talent, and drive - but who find themselves at a crossroads. Not sure whether to apply, stay, or let go.

Our coaching supports these decisions with clarity and structure:

• Career Positioning Sessions to redefine what success looks like

• Job Search Strategy for finding roles that actually fit

• Interview Coaching for confident, authentic conversations

• Exit Strategy support when staying no longer feels right

Because in today’s world, a career isn’t just something you build - it’s something you shape. Over time, through experience, and with the right questions.

7. Final Thought

A successful career isn’t always about rising higher. Sometimes, it’s about choosing better. Johannes Günther’s journey is a reminder that growth happens in the pauses, the pivots, and the honest decisions to start again.

And that’s the real talk we need about work.

Do you like to hire an expert like Johannes Günther? Or, are you looking to join the expert community at SalesPro4U? Feel free to reach out at expert@salespro4u.com.

Stay tuned for more enlightening episodes of “The Expert Talk”.

Until then, take care!

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