Has your overall career advancement ground to a halt? Feeling dissatisfied and disillusioned at your lack of progress in promotions? It’s very understandable to feel discouraged when your efforts are getting you nowhere and you feel unappreciated.
But fear not, as we’re here to help. We’ve consulted experts in the career advancement field and for this article we’re listing 5 points on how to overcome that static plateau and get your career back on track again.
Ready? Let’s do it…
1. Examine Your Current Situation
All solutions start with a plan of action. First, examine your current job, are you happy in it, and if not, why not? Does your unhappiness in your job shine through to other co-workers, can they see your lack of enthusiasm in your current position? Could that be why you aren’t getting a promotion? If you are happy with your job but still not getting noticed, is there anything you can do to get noticed? Are there tasks in your work you could do to help and encourage others? Perhaps talk to management and see if there is room for you to develop further your current responsibilities, let them see you as eager to please and an essential asset to the company. Once you figure out the basics, you can then move in the right direction.
2. Strengths And Weaknesses
Now you’ve determined where you are and what you want, it’s time to examine yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do both relate to your job? Are you playing to your strengths right now or allowing your weaker points to overshadow your work? Think about what you are really good at and focus on that. Find ways to increase your productivity and get more done. For your weaknesses, see if you can downplay them by perhaps delegating some lesser tasks to other people so your weaker points aren’t so apparent. If your company has a performance review for employees, really listen to what other people feel about your work and utilize that advice in a positive and constructive manner to shore up your strong points.
3. Additional Training
Some companies run training courses to improve relevant skills for the workplace like management, communication, etc. Does your employer run such courses, either in-house or by outside contractors? What kind of training is being offered if so, and how could that help kick-start your career prospects? If there aren’t any courses in your workplace, how about approaching management and suggesting some? It would show how enthusiastic and innovative you are, and might certainly get you noticed for future promotion if you’re seen as someone who is looking out for the company’s development?
4. Develop Your Communication Skills.
One of the main factors in advancing your career prospects is the art of communication; putting yourself at the forefront, selling your strengths, getting noticed… it’s all about communicating that to others. Perhaps you’ve never really considered your communication skills as being important to your potential advancement, but how can you be considered for promotion when management aren’t aware of just what an asset you are to them? Show them that in both word and deed. If there’s a corporate meeting, go prepared with ideas and suggestions. If you feel some areas of workflow could be improved, convey that to management. If there’s something that needs done, put yourself forward for it. Communicate your strengths, your enthusiasm, your innovation, and watch your career prospects improve significantly.
5. Get A New Job
A last-resort option but one nonetheless that shouldn’t be off the table. If nothing has markedly changed with your career prospects, give it a bit more time and see how things transpire. Perhaps you’re getting noticed more than you think, and the seed you’ve planted will bear fruit soon once management notices you on a regular basis. Don’t rush into any hasty decisions just because the pace isn’t as quick as you might like. But if you’re absolutely sure that your career advancement really has hit a dead end with your current employer – or even worse, there’s a possibility of you being laid off – and you see no real prospect of promotion in the near future, then perhaps you should start looking elsewhere. Take your time, see what’s out there, see what new job opportunities grab your interest and apply for them. When or if you get a job interview with a prospective new employer, make sure you ask about career advancement opportunities in that company, and see if there are contractual obligations for promotion should you move there. But again, take your time with this option and don’t jump too soon before you’ve carefully assessed all eventualities.
We’re hoping this has really helped you look at your potential career opportunities with a fresh perspective. At the end of the day, you have the power to change your prospects and turn your dreams into reality. Alexander the Great once said “fortune favors the bold”. So be bold, be brave, and win for yourself that fulfilling career you deserve. Good luck!
