From Just “Fitting In” to Belonging at Work
Many people feel torn between who they are and where they fit at work. Traditional career advice often emphasizes job titles, ladders, and linear paths—what some would call the “little C” career: the external markers like roles, pay, and benefits. But an emerging conversation reframes career as a broader, more personal journey—the “big C” career: the meaning, values, and impact we seek across a lifetime of experiences. In this view, career isn’t a single box to fill but a constellation that evolves and sometimes resists easy categorization.
A key tension sits between “fit” and “belonging.” Fit is about aligning with expectations; belonging is about being accepted and valued for who you are. When people say they want a place where they “fit,” they often describe something closer to belonging: being seen, understood, and appreciated. That distinction matters especially for professionals who don’t map neatly to one label. Hybrid professionals—those who integrate multiple disciplines into a unique identity—frequently struggle with a marketplace that prefers tidy boxes. Naming that hybridity and learning to communicate it clearly can be the difference between feeling misplaced and feeling at home in one’s work.
Dr. Sarabeth Berk Bickerton addresses this evolution in her work on career belonging. Her first book, More Than My Title, gave language to hybrid professionals, but the core problem that emerged was not just “Who am I?” but “Where do I belong?” Her new book, Seen, Known, Valued, reframes career development around three power questions: Who are you in your work beyond a job title? What does that actually mean—can you define it? And how do you want to feel seen, known, and valued in your work? These questions shift focus from external validation to internal clarity, then back out to how you engage with others.
She introduces the Career Belonging Matrix, a framework that explores how you are seen, known, and valued by yourself, by others, and within something bigger than you—such as a field, mission, or community. Because these are big concepts, she teaches concrete skills and offers synonyms to help people make them actionable. The matrix culminates in “SKV statements”—clear mantras that capture how you want to be perceived and recognized, so you can align your actions and communications accordingly.
For gifted, intense, and multi-talented adults, she differentiates three types of professional identity: singularity (expert), multiplicity (many distinct roles), and hybridity (integration at the intersections). A practical step is prioritizing your identities into primary, secondary, and tertiary so you can communicate value without diluting it. For those who fear choosing, her approach validates breadth while insisting on clarity—especially for hybrids who must explain their intersections in ways others can remember, repeat, and refer.
The changing nature of work adds urgency. More people operate independently, personal branding is increasingly vital, and AI now mediates discovery and hiring in new ways. Because large models are trained on historical patterns, they may default to conventional titles and pathways—potentially overlooking hybrid profiles or unconventional combinations. Dr. Sarabeth urges individuals to make their expertise legible online in their own words, articulating distinct language for their value and curating a digital presence that reflects how they want to be found. She uses AI as a co-creator and built free tools, including Glimmer, a reflective GPT that helps people identify their current “state of career being” and move forward with more precision.
We also addressed the lived experience of career transitions—burnout, boredom, masking, and the fear of never belonging. She names the passage from little C to big C as “crossing the career chasm,” with psychological, cultural, and practical barriers that can take time to navigate. When self-doubt takes over, her mantra is simple: “My career belongs to me.”
Belonging at work is not a single destination but a practice of alignment over time. It can mean prioritizing your primary professional identities, accepting that not every role will express all of you, and building communities that nourish different facets—whether within organizations or beyond them. For hybrids and gifted professionals, it often requires self-definition first and then clear expression so others can meet you there. Defining your career in ways that let you feel seen, known, and valued—by yourself first, then by others—creates a steadier foundation for choices, conversations, and growth in a workforce still learning how to recognize what doesn’t fit neatly on a résumé.
Find Dr. Sarabeth and her work:
| Author More Than My Title & Seen Known Valued (Order Here) |
- Visit Sarabeth’s website for free tools and resources https://www.morethanmytitle.com/
- Use the Glimmer AI career reflection tool https://www.morethanmytitle.com/glimmer
Imi Lo is an independent consultant who has dedicated her career to helping emotionally intense and highly sensitive people turn their depth into strength. Her three books, Emotional Sensitivity and Intensity, The Gift of Intensity, and The Gift of Empathy are translated into multiple languages. Imi's background includes two Master's degrees—one in Mental Health and one in Buddhist Studies—alongside training in philosophical consulting, Jungian theories, global cultures, and mindfulness-based modalities. Her multicultural perspective has been enriched by living across the UK, Australia, and Asia, alongside her work with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the NHS (UK). Throughout her career, she has served as a psychotherapist, suicide crisis counselor, mental health supervisor, and trainer for therapists and coaches. You can contact Imi for a one-to-one consulting session that is catered to your specific needs.