What's holding my career back?

Author: Monique Colbert
Published: Jul 1 2013

There are a wide number of reasons that you might find yourself stuck in a career rut. Fortunately, there are also several steps that you can take to correct the issue. However, in order to move forward with a more productive career, it is essential to determine why your career has grown stagnant. By taking the time to analyze your current situation, you can discover the root of the problem and find creative solutions for fixing it.

Why is My Career Standing Still?

If you feel like your career is stuck, it is important to figure out if you are causing the issue. For example, if you have let yourself become complacent in your job, it is very possible that you are standing in your own way. If this is not the problem, you might be dealing with a stagnant job market in your specific field that is preventing any forward momentum. Either way, the only way that you are going to get your career moving in the right direction is to take proactive steps to improve the situation.

How can I Improve My Career?

Whether you decide that your career issue is based around yourself or a lack of positions within your industry, it is a good idea to work with a coach or mentor who can help you achieve your goals. After all, analyzing your own strengths and weaknesses can be difficult, and making a plan to correct them could be even harder. Fortunately, career coaches and mentors have the necessary experience to help you get on the right path. In some cases, this might require looking for work in a new industry. However, if you want your career to stop standing still, it is essential that you remain open to all of your options.

What if I Love My Industry?

If you have no interest in leaving your current industry, you will need to be willing to deal with the current job market. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean that you have to simply accept the fact that your career is standing still. Instead, you should take steps to enhance your work related abilities so that you will have a better chance of getting a promotion when a new position becomes available. Again, this is something a mentor or a coach can help you accomplish. If looking for a career coach Chicago and other busy metropolitan cities have outstanding ones.

What will a Coach Tell Me to Do?

Each coach will work specifically with your work skills, personality and goals. In other words, there is no magic formula that will work for everyone. However, they are going to help you discover your weaknesses so that you can improve them, and they will also help you set a list of weekly goals that will enable you to take your career to the next level.

There is no reason to allow your career to become stagnant. Instead, you should work with a coach or mentor to build a plan that will enable you to move forward. By taking this proactive step, you will be in a much better position to receive the next promotion that opens up at your place of employment.

Monique Colbert, MBA, is a freelance writer and has a background in human resources, and understands career needs for coaches. NOOMII has a web listing of one of the largest directories of coaches.

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