Deal with Career Stagnation
Career stagnation, or feeling like you're stuck in a job that isn't right for you or is going nowhere, is a common problem among professionals. It's important to establish a career for yourself that fulfills your abilities and expectations for your career. Know how to deal with career stagnation so you can avoid it or end it.
Steps
- Discuss the problem with your supervisor.
- Career stagnation often arises due to of a lack of growth or educational opportunities or inconsistent compensation for the work you're doing. Discuss these issues with your supervisor and find out what educational opportunities are available for you to increase your skill level and what you can do to earn more money.
- Take a vacation.
- One of the best ways to get out of a stagnant career period is to walk away from it for a little while by taking a vacation. Go somewhere you've always wanted to go for at least a week or 2 to give yourself plenty of time to unwind and relax. Don't take any work with you or anything that could result in your working while on vacation. These include cell phones, laptops or files and paperwork.
- Evaluate your long-term goals.
- Consider the career path you intended for yourself when you started the job and ask yourself if the job you're in fits in with that career path and the long-term goals you have for your career. If it does, you might just need to look into educational opportunities or other small changes. If not, it might be time to find a new job that will help you work toward your career goals.
- Find a new hobby.
- Sometimes breaking out of a stagnant job involves finding ways outside of work to eliminate stress and unwind. Find a new hobby outside of work that you can enjoy on a regular basis. It should allow you to reduce your stress level and take advantage of some of the interests and skills that you don't get to use in your job. Consider cooking classes, fitness classes with a personal trainer, daily walks in the park or season tickets for your favorite sports team. These hobbies will allow you to leave the office behind and enjoy being yourself, which will make you more focused and passionate about the work you do.
- Care for yourself.
- Career stagnation can occur if you're too tired, hungry or stressed out to put the necessary energy or concentration into your job. To keep from losing interest in your job, make sure you eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and avoid stress outside of work. These healthy lifestyle choices outside the office will allow you to devote your full attention to your job.
