The Top 5 Ways to Kickstart Your Stalled Career
Everyone gets stuck in a rut once in a while. You feel like your life is planned out for you and you get bored with your everyday routines. If you feel like your career is stalled and you’re looking for a jumpstart, then consider the following.
1. Transform Your Image
Sometimes all it takes to jumpstart a stalled career is an image transformation. Analyze your professional career counselor image and pinpoint factors you can improve on, such as your presentation and verbal skills. This can boost your self confidence and help you get what you need out of your job. By changing the way you think and act, others will take notice and change their response to you. Who knows, you may just get a promotion or a new set of responsibilities that will help you restart your career.
3. Take Initiative
Decide what you want out of your job and go get it. Talk with your supervisor about opportunities for advancement. Ask them what they want you to accomplish in your position, and if it becomes clear to you that the job is a dead-end, it could be the push you need to start looking for a new job.
4. Change Careers
Research other career paths that interest you. Find someone you can shadow for a few days to get a feel for what the job is like, then go for it. If you need to go back to school, look into online programs that will allow you to keep your job while working towards a new degree. Changing careers can be a risky move, but in the end it just may be worth it.
4. Start Networking
Join a social community such as LinkedIn or Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/pages/eLearnPortalcom-Your-Online-Degree-Connection/28981853009] and meet people in similar fields. Ask people if they know of other opportunities in the field and what they have done to get ahead. You may also find someone who can mentor you and help you decide on a path to take. Networking may also bring you new clients, friends, and tools to help you on your journey.
5. See a Career Development Professional
If all else fails, make an appointment with a career counselor to get some insight into what needs to be done to jumpstart your career. They can provide valuable advice that you won’t get anywhere else. Be sure to check their credentials; most career counselors are members of the National Career Development Association, and the NCDA website has a tool that lets you search for a qualified counselor.