ClearRock offers the following advice on getting your career unstuck – by either resolving issues with your current employer or finding another job:
1. Have a talk with your boss. A good starting point is a frank discussion with your manager about your potential, possibilities to take on more responsibilities, make your job more challenging, or transfer to another department or role.
2. Determine whether it’s worth staying with your employer. Rate the major factors – such as compensation and benefits, opportunity for advancement, relationships with your manager and co-workers, and how much you like the job – as either positives or negatives. Then, see if there are more plusses or minuses to guide you on whether to stay and try to work things out or seek career satisfaction elsewhere.
3. Pay close attention to how you feel about your current job. It may be time to leave if your current job is taking too much of a toll on your personal life – you don’t want to get out of bed to go to work, you’re losing sleep, you’re irritable all the time. It may also be time to change jobs if you don’t feel appreciated any more – especially if you used to feel valued, but you no longer think you make a difference.
4. Don’t turn down a significant opportunity to advance. One reason to leave may be if a potential job is substantially better than your current position in career growth, chances for advancement, more responsibilities, and a sizeable difference in pay and benefits. The new position should offer clear advantages than just a bigger paycheck.
5. Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn to let others know about your accomplishments. One of the biggest reasons people feel unappreciated at work is because they don’t share compliments and praise they receive from customers and co-workers, such as positive letters and emails. Spread the word, but in a discreet way.
6. Increase your challenges. Look for opportunities at your current job or another job where you can continue to grow in your career. Volunteer to lead a special project, task force or charity drive so you can showcase your capacity to take on responsibility and produce results.
7. Don’t take a passive approach to your career. You should have two over-riding career objectives – continually upgrading your knowledge and skills, and persistently updating your career network. Keep your network current and apprised of your latest career developments, update your social networks, and add new contacts that can assist with your career progression.
