Do you feel stuck in your career?

Feeling stuck in your career at some phase is entirely normal. Almost everyone who has been in a career for a considerable period may feel like this. It can even be exaggerated by the changes taking place constantly in that career path.

But what can you do if you feel this way?

Now firstly we cannot always rely on our feelings. They are not determinators always of the long-term benefits of a career or pretty much anything in life. But what they can do is to encourage us to make a few tweaks and a few changes. Let’s see what can be done to address the career stuck status; check these 10 steps to understand what can be done if you think you are stuck in your career.

Acknowledge it to yourself

Have a chat with you. What do you really mean by understanding that you are stuck in a career? Does it mean you are ready to venture out or you need a change of tasks – do you want to enhance the tasks you already handle, or do you want fresh challenges? Talk to yourself and put down in writing what options you are really looking at.

Reframe your current role

Are there options for you to reframe your current role? Can you extend or enhance the current job role to include newer, slightly different tasks and projects? Sometimes answers like within; internal reframing may help you understand how the job you are in can be recalibrated as an option before you go for other choices.

Network intentionally

Make it a point to connect with those outside your circle there may be other opportunities and openings that can be of interest. You can meet and network at coffee, on LinkedIn or across industry functions. This might result in fresh options.

Define what stuck means for you

Does being stuck mean boring and repetitive functions or lack of innovation? Is it lack  of exposure or opportunity to get ahead? Have a chat with yourself and try to identify what being stuck in a career means to you. When you do, it is easier to understand what needs to change for you to feel accomplished and content.

Update your skills and interests

Before you consider a career shift, it is important to understand how up to date your skills need to be. You can research industries that may be of interest to you and seek to update yourself with skills needed for that particular interest.

Develop a timeline for the shift

You cannot change anything overnight. Give yourself a calendar for the shift and make it a personal goal. For an example, you can give yourself 03 months to see if you are ready to shift or 06 months to see if you can really make the shift.

Identify areas you think will be better for you

Which areas of a career shift would be of interest to you? Have you looked at alternatives? Sometimes when you really go to find out what’s out there, you may feel you are better off where you are so all you need to make are slight tweaks to your career path.

Have a confident chat with someone whom you look up to

It is always a good idea to seek out other opinions. What feels like stuck to you may not really be so when you seek another viewpoint. Have a chat to identify what might be the best fit for your qualifications and experience and look at it from another’s viewpoint. Ask for an honest opinion from someone who can be trusted.

Set a small and measurable goal

While making a career transition may seem daunting when you consider all options, give yourself small and measurable goals that can be workable. Learn about what can be complimentary as a career shift or what is possible to make the shift. Sometimes it might be a good idea to review what is immediately doable rather than wait for a change of scenario.

Be practical about what you want to do

While feeling stuck in your current job role can sometimes be real, it may also be a passing phase. You can have a chat with your immediate supervisor or at your appraisals on what you really want to do. Sometimes opening can bring amazing changes just where you are. You can try to reach out and mitigate what is frustrating or not satisfying about your current job role.

While it is easy to tell yourself you are stuck in a career, it is not always easy to step out if you have invested in the career and have spent a considerable amount of time building yourself and your career up. It is best to take stock of the situation and really try to understand what will be good for you in the end. It helps to have all the information you need, fresh opinions and perspectives before you try to make the change.

Feel