Many people find themselves in a career rut at some point during their working years. It is easy to fall into a pattern and stay because it is familiar. But don’t you deserve better? Instead of becoming a victim of career complacency, you could evaluate your current state and see if it is time to make a change.
If you want to make sure you aren’t in a career rut, ask yourself the following five questions and see where you stand.
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Do you get up each morning dreading the workday?
Employees from all walks of life occasionally wish a Monday was a Sunday, but most get through their days with minimal internal complaining. However, if you find yourself getting up every morning and dreading the idea of going to work, it could be a sign of a bigger problem.
A career rut can take on a variety of forms, some of which have less to do with the type of work, and more to do with the environment in which the work is performed. If your mornings always start with a feeling of doom, consider what about your current situation is giving you that feeling. You may just be tired of doing what you’re doing at your current worksite. If it is the work, then the next question may apply more.
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Are you bored?
After performing certain tasks over the course of years, it is easy to find yourself uninspired, unmotivated and simply bored. At the beginning of any career, there is a level of fulfillment from learning new skills and meeting new challenges. If your day-to-day doesn’t involve work that you haven’t seen before, it is easy to become disheartened.
If boredom is making your work life miserable, you have options. In cases where the environment is fine, are there other positions that interest you? You may be able to find some opportunities to cross train in new subjects, bringing back a feeling of excitement. Training in new technologies or systems can also be satisfying.
Sometimes, the work just doesn’t have any appeal anymore. In those cases, figure out where you do want to be. Nothing says you can’t work towards a career change. Shifting to a similar career field, such as transitioning from desktop support to programming, can be completed fairly quickly since the foundational skills are similar. However, if you want to change from desktop support to human resources, be prepared to dedicate the time and energy necessary to learn the new skills you will need.
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Is your performance only okay?
A career rut can manifest itself as a lackluster performance on the job. If your recent performance reviews haven’t been stellar, and you find yourself being corrected more often, your career is not moving forward. Even if you are consistently meeting expectations, that isn’t a sign of forward progress. If you want to continue in your current field, it is time to step up your game. You may need to seek out new opportunities and projects, and not just wait for them to be assigned. Furthering your education can also help propel you forward.
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When was your last promotion?
If you haven’t seen a raise or promotion in the last few years, your career is likely at a standstill. Similar to having only okay performance reviews, you may need to make some changes to move forward. If internal promotions are appealing, work with your supervisor to determine what you need to do to get there. If not, it may be time to look at outside promotional opportunities to shake up your career.
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Do you want to leave?
One of the easiest ways to identify if you are in a rut is the simple desire to leave. While most people would say “yes” to leaving a position if they became independently wealthy, would you leave for a lower-paying job that you enjoyed? If you are daydreaming about being somewhere else, it may be time to make a change.
Luckily, many jobs have skills that can be transferred to other opportunities. The Squires Group has the knowledge and expertise to help you explore new options and get your career back on the fast track. Contact us today for a brighter tomorrow.
