The average person changes jobs 12 times.
Many people spend less than five years at each job, especially in today's unprecedented job market.
Because of this, it can be really easy to find yourself in a career rut. And if you're seeking career change advice, you might feel really overwhelmed with all of the options out there.
In this blog post, we'll go over some of the best advice one can get if they're going through a work rut, and how they can overcome career plateaus.
Read on for more information on how to get your career moving forward again.
Set a Goal
If you're in a rut, nothing is going to change by you staying there. It is often said that the very definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This is the same thing when it comes to getting out of your rut.
You need to set a goal and plan to achieve it. Whether this is within your current job or with a new job, you'll need to look for something you can do to ensure you're moving forward.
Otherwise, you're just standing still, which will frustrate you even more.
Put Your Feelers Out
Start thinking about what other jobs you could do and where you might like to work. You may need to be careful, though, as some jobs specifically state that they will fire people if they hear about them looking for new jobs. So, at least be a bit quiet about it as you do it.
But, you can begin to peruse vacancy sites and talk to family members and friends about job openings that you could do. Make a list of what's available to help you weigh up the pros and cons of starting a new job or staying where you are.
You certainly need to update your resume / CV / cover letter and LinkedIn profile as well and start uploading your resume to job sites and recruiters when the time comes. It helps to have a professional writer optimize your resume so it stands out and doesn't go straight into the reject pile when there are a lot of applicants. If you live in California, you could utilize https://www.arcresumes.com/local/california/ to get your resume written correctly.
Ask Your Boss for Some Change or More Responsibility
If you have a good relationship with your boss, it may be time to ask for more responsibility, or for a change. This may mean being transferred to a new location, or taking on another project or two.
Let your boss know that you're having trouble with your current position if you have an open line of communication between the two of you. You may be able to work together to improve your situation at work and make it more attractive to you.
Changing jobs is stressful, so if you can avoid doing so by making your current position even better, then it's something to consider.
Take a New Class or Advance Your Skill Set
Is your education, or lack thereof, holding you back from getting a promotion at work or from getting another job you'd like better? If so, consider adding a qualification to your resume and go out and take a class or earn a degree.
For many people, this is difficult if you have children or other obligations. Thankfully, with the advent of online education, you can often carve out time to do so between what you need to do for your family or for yourself.
You can also often just take a class or two online and get your feet wet and see if it's something you can manage.
Re-Train in a Whole New Career Path
This is a bit more drastic, but something some people may consider. While retraining in an entirely new career path will take a huge amount of dedication, it may be worth it in the end. If you believe that this new career path will make you much happier than where you are, then it is worth pursuing.
Staying in a job that you don't feel is helping you advance personally or professionally is not helpful to anyone.
Spruce Up Your Resume and Go Job Hunting
If you've decided to go job hunting, then spruce up your resume before you do it. The old resume you have saved on a file on your computer may not accurately reflect everything you've learned in recent years. It may also not accurately reflect the type of worker you are now, or the skills that you have.
If you're not sure you have what it takes to create a stellar resume, resume writing services exist for this purpose. They can help make you look so impressive on paper that most employers would be crazy to turn you down.
Weigh the Pros and Cons of Switching Your Job
Before you decide to embark on the path of pursuing a new job or a new educational pursuit, you'll want to weigh the pros and cons of everything. Is it actually advantageous to you to make this move at this point in your life, or are you risking far too much?
Remember, risking your happiness can be the greatest risk of all, so you'll want to consider yourself and how you feel carefully.
Career Change Advice: Other Ways to Get Out of Your Rut
You don't necessarily have to quit your job or ask your boss for more responsibility in order to have a better outlook or get you out of your rut. For some people, it can be as easy as switching up your daily routine or booking a vacation with your spouse so that you have something to look forward to.
What works for you may not work for someone else, so keep that in mind as you navigate the process. When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask those close to you for their career change advice. Remove that rut with more career change advice in the HR and Careers section of the Bootstrap Business Blog!
Ask Your Boss for Some Change or More Responsibility
If you have a good relationship with your boss, it may be time to ask for more responsibility, or for a change. This may mean being transferred to a new location, or taking on another project or two.
Let your boss know that you're having trouble with your current position if you have an open line of communication between the two of you. You may be able to work together to improve your situation at work and make it more attractive to you.
Changing jobs is stressful, so if you can avoid doing so by making your current position even better, then it's something to consider.
Take a New Class or Advance Your Skill Set
Is your education, or lack thereof, holding you back from getting a promotion at work or from getting another job you'd like better? If so, consider adding a qualification to your resume and go out and take a class or earn a degree.
For many people, this is difficult if you have children or other obligations. Thankfully, with the advent of online education, you can often carve out time to do so between what you need to do for your family or for yourself.
You can also often just take a class or two online and get your feet wet and see if it's something you can manage.
Re-Train in a Whole New Career Path
This is a bit more drastic, but something some people may consider. While retraining in an entirely new career path will take a huge amount of dedication, it may be worth it in the end. If you believe that this new career path will make you much happier than where you are, then it is worth pursuing.
Staying in a job that you don't feel is helping you advance personally or professionally is not helpful to anyone.
Spruce Up Your Resume and Go Job Hunting
If you've decided to go job hunting, then spruce up your resume before you do it. The old resume you have saved on a file on your computer may not accurately reflect everything you've learned in recent years. It may also not accurately reflect the type of worker you are now, or the skills that you have.
If you're not sure you have what it takes to create a stellar resume, resume writing services exist for this purpose. They can help make you look so impressive on paper that most employers would be crazy to turn you down.
Weigh the Pros and Cons of Switching Your Job
Before you decide to embark on the path of pursuing a new job or a new educational pursuit, you'll want to weigh the pros and cons of everything. Is it actually advantageous to you to make this move at this point in your life, or are you risking far too much?
Remember, risking your happiness can be the greatest risk of all, so you'll want to consider yourself and how you feel carefully.
Career Change Advice: Other Ways to Get Out of Your Rut
You don't necessarily have to quit your job or ask your boss for more responsibility in order to have a better outlook or get you out of your rut. For some people, it can be as easy as switching up your daily routine or booking a vacation with your spouse so that you have something to look forward to.
What works for you may not work for someone else, so keep that in mind as you navigate the process. When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask those close to you for their career change advice. Remove that rut with more career change advice in the HR and Careers section of the Bootstrap Business Blog!
