Reasons you’re in a career rut, and how to break out of it

Published On: June 19, 2016 04:35 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


You were on track. You landed that entry-level job, a couple years later you got a promotion, and then—nothing. Your career just stalled. It leaves you feeling totally stranded. Do you wait it out and hope things get going again? Look for another job?  

The good news is that there are tons of reasons why your career might have stalled out, and plenty of things you can do about it!

Your skills are outdated
Are you still listing ‘Microsoft Office’ as a skill on your resume? You don’t have to list every single skill you possess. Just the important ones. If you’re applying for tech jobs (or almost any job that requires you to use a computer), things like knowing how to use Microsoft Office are considered standard. Instead, only list more advanced and specialized skills that you have. Scour job listings for the jobs you want to see what skills they emphasize, and then be sure to list the ones you have prominently.

You’ve stopped growing
If you’re very comfortable where you are and aren’t making any moves to get better or expand your expertise, then are you really surprised that your career is stagnant? How can you expect to get ahead if you’re not being proactive about learning new skills that make you worthy of getting ahead? Take the time to figure out what skills you’re lacking for the job you want and start learning them! Take a class, read some books, follow some tutorials, and then find a way to demonstrate that your skills have improved.
You have blockers
There are some blockers you may have little or no control over. Maybe your boss isn’t moving ahead so there’s no room for you to move ahead. Maybe the only person above you is the founder or CEO. In any case, it’s important to recognize these blockers, and decide how long you’re willing to wait for them to be removed (or if that’s even possible). You may have to either settle for staying put or start looking for opportunities outside your current department or company.

You don’t fit the company culture
Maybe you’re too laid back (or not laid back enough) to really fit in at your company. Maybe you see nothing wrong with constructive criticism and they’re all drinking the positivity-only Kool-Aid. If you’re not a good fit with your company’s culture, then you may need to look elsewhere for a company that’s a better fit. In all likelihood, if you’re not fitting in at work, you’re not all that happy there anyway.

You aren’t networking
If you want to get ahead, you have to know the right people, and more importantly, they have to know you. That means networking within your current company as well as outside of it. Spend some time getting to know people ahead of you. Learn from them. Help them out where you can. Form relationships so that when it’s time to put your hat in the ring for that promotion, they recognize your name when your resume crosses their desk.

You’re passive
Sometimes the reason you haven’t gotten ahead is that no one realizes you even want to get ahead. You haven’t gone out there and asked for a promotion, a raise, and so on. You’re just waiting for it to fall into your lap. Stop waiting for career moves to happen to you and go after them. Let your boss know that you’d love to move up in the company. There’s nothing wrong with ambition and many companies embrace employees who want to better themselves within the company.

You don’t have relevant skills
The world has changed. Industries have changed. If your skills haven’t changed, you may not be a good candidate to move ahead. Look at the skills your boss has (or your boss’s boss has). Do you have those skills? Or do you at least have some of them, even if you’re still working on others? If you don’t, then it’s time to start learning!

Your industry is shrinking
Not every industry is growing. As technology and culture change, industries grow and shrink. If yours is shrinking, it might be time to move on. Learn some new skills and a find a new career (or at least a new industry) before it’s too late.

Your performance is lagging
If you’re not continuously improving at your job, then you’re not going to get ahead. It’s that simple. If your performance is exactly where it was a year ago, or five years ago, then why would you be promoted? Maintaining the status quo is never going to get you ahead. Look for ways to excel at your job. That doesn’t mean you have to pull 60-hour work weeks or never take a vacation. But it does mean that you need to inject some passion into your work, figure out which areas you can really shine in, and then focus your efforts there.

The Muse

 


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