We can often feel like we are stuck in a rut career-wise. If we’ve been doing the same role for the past decade and see very little scope for promotion or an increase in salary and responsibility, it can be hard to locate your professional mojo and feel motivated to perform at your best. All is not lost. If you feel a little out of sorts professionally and need to move forward in your career, it’s up to you to be proactive and make it happen. No longer do people secure a job and remain loyal to the company they work for come what may. It’s time to take a step back, assess what it is you require from your working life and set out to achieve this. You need to be proactive to maximize your earning potential.
Networking
Although you may not have the innate impetus to go out of your way for the company you are working for because you don’t feel like they value your contribution, volunteer your time at the next industry event. You will be the face of your company and have many opportunities to network with rivals and competitors. It’s time to shine your shoes and get out there. Make a network of contacts and make it clear to them that you’re seeking new opportunities. Finding a job elsewhere can reignite your passion for your career and can see you gaining a promotion with a higher salary. Even if the new job is a sidestep, there still might be greater opportunities for promotion further down the line.
Invest In Yourself
Even if you need to fund this from your own pocket, consider studying for a qualification that will make you stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field. If you are actively job hunting, employers will favour a candidate with a recent industry-specific qualification. Try to source an institution that is renowned for its top quality qualification and the destinations of its alumni. If you are already at a managerial level, why not enhance your knowledge with an operations management online degree exploring optimal efficiency in workflow practices. With this degree under your belt, you will be arming yourself with an extra employability factor and demonstrating your earning potential to future employers.
A Change Is As Good As A Rest
Sometimes, we can become a little disillusioned with our careers and require a break. This doesn’t mean taking time out to catch up on boxsets but doing something worthwhile with a sabbatical. Consider volunteering opportunities overseas, such as building a school in Lesotho, digging wells in Uganda or aiding deforestation efforts in Costa Rica. Although not directly linked to your career, employers will love the fact that you were courageous enough to do something different and will value the life experience that you have gained. You will have inevitably gained in confidence after your volunteering efforts and will be ready to climb the next rung of the career ladder.
Don’t wallow and feel like you have to accept that your current role is your lot. Although it takes effort and requires you to be proactive, you can find your way out of a career rut to take the next step in your professional life.
