At some point in your career, you may feel like you’ve hit a plateau where you are not growing or progressing like you used to. This can leave you feeling stagnant, unmotivated and unsure of how to jumpstart your career. With some strategic planning and effort, you can break through plateaus to continue advancing in your career. Here are some tips for overcoming career plateaus.
Career Plateaus – Assess Where You Currently Stand
The first step is to assess your current career standing. Determine how long you’ve been in your current role and with your employer. Consider if you are still learning new skills and enjoying the day-to-day work. Reflect on your accomplishments and contributions in your recent positions. This will help you gain awareness of your career trajectory so far and if you have truly reached a plateau.
Explore Internal Opportunities
Look within your current company for ways to progress your career. Some options may include requesting a new assignment, project or responsibilities that expand your skills. You can express interest to your manager in moving up to a more advanced role when one becomes available. Also, find out if your employer offers educational stipends or tuition reimbursement to pursue continuing education and training. This benefits both you and the company long term.
Build Your External Professional Network
Join industry professional organizations and alumni associations to build connections outside your company. Attend conferences, seminars, networking events and informational interviews. Stay up to date on current industry trends and best practices. Leverage online professional networks like LinkedIn to connect with leaders in your field. Tapping into your external professional network exposes you to new job opportunities and insider advice for advancing your career.
Career Plateaus – Develop New Skills
Consider enrolling in advanced coursework and training programs to gain new skills and certifications. This could involve courses for continuing education for teachers, participating in skill-building workshops for health and wellness professionals, or taking technology training courses for IT experts. The goal is to make yourself more marketable either for new roles within your school or at other competing schools. Expanding your skill set reinvigorates your resume and your own professional goals.
Set Goals and Timelines
Create specific goals with target dates for when you want to achieve certain milestones, whether it’s completing a degree, certification or landing a promotion. Use these goals as a roadmap for moving your career forward on a defined timeline with milestones to work towards. For instance, set a goal to earn a particular certification by the end of the year, or apply for an internal promotion within 6 months. Goals provide focus and motivation to continue making progress.
Consider a Career Change
If you have explored all options for growth in your current role and with your employer, but you are still feeling stagnant, it may be time to consider a career change. Research job opportunities in related fields or something completely new that aligns with your interests and abilities. Update your resume and start applying to jobs to test the market. Changing careers reenergizes you and utilizes your transferable skills.
Hitting a career plateau can happen to any professional at some point. But there are proactive strategies you can implement to overcome plateaus. With determination and creativity, you can breathe new life into your career development.
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