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Last Updated on March 28, 2025
We all have the odd day when work doesn’t feel great, exciting, or much fun. But what if you feel like that about your job every single day when you feel that what you do is getting you nowhere and doesn’t inspire you at all? Recognizing that you’ve reached a sticking point in your career is the first step to doing something about it. Then, you can take different actions to fix the problem and move on.
What This Article Covers
- Identifying Career Dissatisfaction: Learn how to recognize when you’re stuck in a career rut and determine the underlying issues causing dissatisfaction in your job.
- Finding the Root of the Problem: Understand how pinpointing specific frustrations—whether related to the job itself, management, or workplace environment—can help you take the right steps forward.
- Enhancing Your Current Role: Discover proactive strategies such as taking on new responsibilities and additional
training to progress in your current job before making a significant career shift. - Planning a
Career Change : Learn how to strategically transition into a new role by researching opportunities, acquiring relevantskills , and setting clear career goals. - Optimizing Your
Job Search : Learn how to prepare a standout CV, update yourLinkedIn profile , and ensure your online presence aligns with your professional image. - Handling Rejection and Staying Persistent: Understand how to deal with job rejections and keep pushing forward with confidence and adaptability until you land the right opportunity.
Decide What The Problem Is
A survey by the Conference Board has asked Americans if they have been happy at work for decades. Results from recent years aren’t very encouraging, as 52.3% of us are unhappy with our work. Still, it’s easy to say you’re unhappy in a particular job, but sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint why. Perhaps the job itself is ok, but you have a problem with a particular colleague or the way the company is run. Maybe you like your co-workers but can’t stand the daily commute that it takes to get you to and from work. You might have an unreasonable manager who puts pressure on you with unreasonable deadlines.
Recognizing that you’ve reached a sticking point in your career is the first step to doing something about it. Then you can take different actions to fix the problem and move on.Click To TweetPutting your finger on what makes you feel unsatisfied is the first thing you must do. Then, you can work forward from there. If the problem isn’t apparent, it may be worth trying some more offbeat solutions that may do the trick. For instance, try describing your ideal job to a friend – you’ll focus on the parts of your job you’re unhappy with at some point.
It’s Not You, It’s Your Job Search distills two decades of career coaching into 43 super-practical, achievable job-search tips that.
Another great idea is having a clairvoyant reading to discover what’s most important to you. People use a session with a clairvoyant to look at different aspects of their lives, and it’s incredible what insights can be drawn out during a psychic reading. Although it may seem an unusual way to approach your career planning, it could be an enlightening one.
Improve On What You Already Have
If you feel like you should be progressing in your current role, don’t wait for someone else to get you moving onwards and upwards. Do it yourself by volunteering to take on assignments above and beyond your usual role. Not only will you give yourself a personal challenge, but you’ll be demonstrating your can-do attitude to your manager. At the same time, put yourself forward for
This book will take you through understanding the way you feel now as well as how to improve your current situation immediately so you can create enough space to work on breaking out and doing what you truly love.
Plan Ahead For The Change You’re Looking For
With some jobs, though, leaving is the only way to move away from that feeling of stagnation. If that’s what you’ve decided to do, take your time to research your next move thoroughly. Handing in your notice without a plan is not the best way forward. Once you’ve decided to leave, focus a small amount of time each day on planning your next career move.
Get a feel for what opportunities are out there, which ones appeal to you, and whether you have the right
Be Prepared
While you’re looking for appropriate positions to apply for, make sure you’re fully prepared should an opportunity suddenly present itself. Of course, the first thing you need to hand in is a CV that will impress any potential employer, ready to
But don’t forget about your online presence. How recently did you update your LinkedIn profile? Does it tally with your CV details? The likelihood is that potential employers will also research your social media presence, so make sure any tweets you make are appropriate (including historical ones) and ensure that what you have visible on Facebook is what you’d be happy for them to see.
However carefully you plan your next career move, you aren’t guaranteed to get the first new job you apply for – or any subsequent one, for that matter. The job market is highly competitive, and you may not even get asked for an interview or selected after you have one. Accept the possibility of rejection, and be willing to keep trying. One day, everything will fall into place, and you’ll be offered the right job to move you out of that career rut!
Next Steps
- Assess Your Current Job Satisfaction: Identify the aspects of your job causing dissatisfaction and determine whether they can be improved or require a complete
career change . - Develop a Skill Enhancement Plan: Use online courses, workshops, or certifications to build new
skills that align with your desiredcareer path or advancement in your current role. - Update
Your Resume and Online Presence: To attract the right opportunities, ensureyour CV ,LinkedIn profile , and professional networks reflect your latest achievements and career aspirations. - Research New Career Paths: Explore industries and roles that align with your strengths and interests, and identify potential job opportunities that offer
career growth and fulfillment. - Network and Seek Mentorship: Connect with industry professionals, join relevant networking groups, and seek guidance from mentors to gain insights and potential job leads in your field of interest.
Final Words
Feeling stuck in your career can be overwhelming, but taking proactive steps can help you regain motivation and direction. Whether you improve your current role, transition to a new field, or enhance your skill set, every step forward brings new opportunities. Stay persistent, embrace continuous learning, and remain open to change—your ideal
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Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
