Job Quiz: Are You Burned Out, Job Hugging or Thriving at Work?

Some workers are feeling great. Some others are drained, scared or overworked. Which camp do you fall in?

Written by

Edited by

Edited by other Updated Apr 6, 2026 Immigration policy. Economic uncertainty. Unemployment. Tariffs. AI. All these factors — and others — are shaping the U.S. job market, says Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s senior economist. They’re also making it harder to find a new job. In March, the economy gained 178,000 jobs, but that doesn’t mean the labor market is back on track, she said. The gains are concentrated in a few industries, not the market overall. “When there is an overall lack of available jobs, many workers are left feeling trapped in their current roles,” Renter says. This stagnation isn't only bad for job satisfaction, but professional growth and better pay.” It's rough out there. "Burnout at work," is being searched on Google at an all-time high. Nerds have interviewed experts and written about tech layoffs, monthly job numbers, AI, career growth and work/life boundaries. We used those articles to create a quiz with some help from AI. Take it to consider your current relationship with your job. If you're working, are you thriving, or just surviving?

Meet MoneyNerd, your weekly news decoder

What’s the verdict?

If your score says you're thriving in your job, share your ways, because a lot of workers are not. That is, if you're fortunate enough to have a job in the first place. "For people out of work right now, it feels like they’re being frozen out of the job market," Daniel Zhao, chief economist at Glassdoor, said in an email interview. "New grads, returning workers, the recently laid-off are all finding it difficult to get their foot onto the career ladder at all." Employee burnout is literally rising as leaders pressure people to get more done with less, he said. Mentions of "burnout" in Glassdoor reviews rose 32% year over year in 2025. Posters pointed to last-minute requests, high-pressure environments and excessive workloads among the reasons. Sometimes it’s the actual work that makes people hate their jobs, Doug Sabella, CEO of software company Payroll Integrations, said in an email interview. But more often, it’s about not feeling seen, heard and supported. That doesn’t mean workers want a Music Dance Experience (shoutout to “Severance”), waffle Wednesdays and free gym memberships. Those are cool and all, but most workers want more than that, he said. “What matters most is that companies demonstrate a genuine investment in employees’ well-being, with benefits and programs that reflect an understanding of their needs.” Because you can set all the boundaries you want, look for projects that keep you motivated and communicate openly with your manager. “But these efforts are only as effective as the space employers create to support them,” he said.

Meet MoneyNerd, your weekly news decoder

So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.
So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.
So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.
Explore more on About the author Fuente Pamela de la Fuente is a managing editor of NerdWallet's personal finance content. She leads budgeting, money-making, consumer credit and and debt coverage. Ask her and her talented team about why credit scores matter, how to save money on your grocery bill, finding the right side hustle, how to protect your identity for free and more. Previously, she led taxes and retirement coverage at NerdWallet. Pamela joined NerdWallet after working at companies including Hallmark Cards, Sprint Corp. and The Kansas City Star. She has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years. Pamela is a thought leader in content diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and finds ways to make every piece of content conversational and accessible to all. She is a graduate of the Maynard Institute's Maynard 200 program, and the National Association of Black Journalists Executive Leadership Academy. She is a two-time winner of the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists' President's Award. She was also founding co-chair of NerdWallet's Nerds of Color employee resource group. Are You a HENRY? High Net Worth: What It Means to Be a HNWI Making $200K and Still Feel Financially Stretched? You’re Not Alone How to Choose a Financial Advisor in 5 Steps Is DoorDash Eating Into Your Retirement? By Tommy Tindall Are You Still Job Hugging? By Pamela de la Fuente What Is Revenge Saving (and Should You Be Doing It)? By Kate Ashford, WMS™ Earning More Doesn’t Make You Immune to Credit Card Debt By Sara Rathner