While it may seem that once you reach the level of a professional career, you’d be happy and satisfied, for many, that isn’t the case at all. Sure, there is that immediate sense of pride and happiness, but over time it’s quite natural to start to feel stagnant in your career – even if it was once challenging and exciting. The fact is that you are learning and growing each and every day, and this can push your desire to do more with your education, skills, and experience.
So, how do you know for sure if you have become stagnant? What are the signs to watch for? And if you have in fact reached that point in your professional career, what can you do about it?
Top Signs to Watch for
One thing that people can hesitate on is reading their thoughts and emotions. It’s normal to pass off that feeling of dissatisfaction with your career to just having a bad day, a rough patch at work, or just feeling a little stir crazy at the moment. And while each of those may be true, there are some signs that could make it more obvious that you’ve reached the point where you just want more.
1. Boredom
The most common first sign that you’ve grown stagnant in your professional career is boredom. Think about it – you are in a professional career, so it should be demanding and rewarding. If the opposite is true, then clearly, it’s time to re-examine your career path.
2. Reached the maximum salary
Another common complaint is that you’ve hit a salary cap, meaning you’ve reached the maximum amount of salary possible with your level of education, training, and experience. It can be a bit depressing to think this is it, this is the most you will ever make, this is the furthest you will go.
3. No Room for advancement
This leads to another common sign, which is no room for advancement. Part of what motivates people to work hard and challenge themselves is that desire to advance in their career. So, what happens once you are on the top rung and there is nowhere left to climb?
4. Your job’s holding you back
It may also feel like your job is in fact holding you back, and that it’s stopping you from reaching your full potential. That isn’t necessarily the sign of a bad job, it’s just a sign that it’s time to move on.
5. Other signs
And then there is the issue of personal growth. For many people, personal growth is a big factor in overall happiness and satisfaction.
Is There a Solution Through Your Current Employer?
So, before you jump ahead and quit your job without any further thoughts, make sure you’ve pursued all avenues of employment. This is especially true if you’re happy with your employer and the people you work with. Maybe it’s not even a promotion that you need, perhaps a lateral move that opens you up to new experiences and challenges would be all it takes.
If you feel like you’ve exhausted all options with your current employer, and there is just nothing left for you to learn, then clearly, it’s time to take more drastic steps.
1. Do a Little Soul Searching
This step may not seem overly productive but in fact it may be exactly what you need before you make your next move. Be honest with yourself about what you’re looking for in a job, and what would make you happy. Do you want to change fields all together?Maybe you want to take on a more senior role that touches on the business executive side of things?There are plenty of options to consider.
2. Identify Your Weaknesses and Where You are Lacking
Just because you are a professional and have many years of work under your belt, doesn’t mean you have mastered all skills. This is a great time to look at your strengths and weaknesses and then ask yourself what gaps you could fill in, and how you could go about it. It could be simple things like bettering your communication skills, or time-management skills, or it could be more detailed like brushing up on the current trends and practices.
3. Further Your Education
The great thing about being in a professional career is that you’ve already achieved and experienced so much that it makes you a perfect candidate for even higher education. Take for example the Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree. This is meant for those who currently hold a senior-level professional job who don’t want to have to quit their job, but would like to further their education in order to open more career possibilities.
If you are looking for a DBA degree Canada-based, you can even study with a prestigious UK University like Aston University. What makes its program so attractive is that it is a part-time program that is done online, so you can continue working while you prepare for the next phase of your career. This program is meant for those who want to be business leaders and make a real impact in the world around them.
In fact, the Aston University program is so impressive that it has been ranked among the best in the world. It has earned such accolades as one of the world’s top DBA programs, according to CEO Magazine, the Small Business Charter Gold award, and it is among the top 1% elite business schools.
4. Time to Move On
This is probably also a good time to start looking around for another job, getting a feel for what’s out there, and where your unique skills and experiences could best be put to use. You may not want to rush this process and quit your current job before you find that next one, so instead this is a time for networking and contact building.
5. No Need to Feel Held Back
At the end of the day, there is really no reason you need to feel as though your career is holding you back from reaching your full potential. Just remember that you’ve got options and paths to take, which can lead you to a higher level of success and happiness.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
