Whether you’ve been in your current job for six months or six years, there comes a time when you need to reckon with reality. You’re stuck. Bored. Simply stated, you’ve outgrown your job.
It’s time to stop denying the obvious and accept that your job is holding you back.
It happens to the best of us at one time or another, but the key is not letting it happen too often; recognize it early and get into action mode.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Being in a job you’re no longer into is like walking around in shoes that are slightly too small. There’s no room to grow, and you’re uncomfortable. This situation becomes even more of a letdown when you like your boss and colleagues. But when you’ve outgrown your job and continue to stick around, you’re doing yourself, and your employer, a disservice.
If we never outgrew our jobs, we’d never advance. Here are three signs that you’re having a career growth stall, plus tips on what to do next, especially when your new job isn’t anywhere in sight.
You’re on autopilot. You’re in the dreaded comfort zone, and you may not even know it! You’re speaking in acronyms in your nightly dreams; you’re encountering the same problems and relying on the very same solutions. You can basically do this job with your eyes closed and one arm tied behind your back.
How to handle it: Mix things up, even if it’s changing the route of your daily commute. Keep your brain fresh so it doesn’t go stale. Take someone out to lunch on your team to get to know them better. Maneuver your way out of your routine.
As you start looking for a new job, you’ll need to get out of jargon speak, as well as autopilot mode. Staying on your toes right now is key to demonstrating sharpness during job interviews.
[See: Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice.]
Boredom reigns supreme. Imagine you’re back in college and ready to graduate but you have to take a 101-level class to fill a requirement before getting your diploma. You’d probably feel over it. Done. Checked out.
You’re kind of experiencing the same frustration at your job, except instead of a college classroom, you’re in a conference room. Weekly team meetings make you yawn just thinking about them. You’ve been there, done that. There goes one more hour of your life you’ll never get back.
How to handle it: First, boredom is a killer. When you’re busy, at least the day goes by quickly. But boredom? Ugh.
At this point, you need to do something — anything — to stay engaged and keep your skills sharp.
Volunteer to work with another department on a project. If none exist, get involved in company initiatives, like an annual community project or fundraiser. Even if the project is unrelated, it’ll give you an opportunity to meet new people and create new work-related experiences for yourself.
Start doing this outside the office as well. Sometimes boredom at work leaks into your personal life, and then you get into a rut socially, as well.
[See: 8 Ways Millennials Can Build Leadership Skills.]
You’ve stopped learning. Acquiring new skills not only keeps your job exciting, it also allows for growth and new possibilities.
Ask yourself: Did I learn something new today? If not, when was the last time I learned something new? What about my job has changed in the past two years? Have I encountered any new challenges, and if so, how did I overcome them? Or has each year pretty much stayed the same — same-stuff-different-day scenario? That’s when you’re driving in the slow lane on the predictable highway to plateauville.
Granted, some people enjoy that zone and prefer it over exploring the unknown. But if it’s been awhile since you felt challenged, that’s a big red flag for your career development. The people who are stagnant in their long-term work are not the people who get promoted. They’re also not the people who get a new job and ultimately land that corner office with a salary to match.
How to handle it: To get ahead in your career and kick-start an upward trajectory, flex that thirst for knowledge in a variety of ways. Become a voracious reader, especially about news within your industry and competitors.
Research online classes, both internally and externally, and talk to your boss to see if the company will pay for it. Not only will you feel occupied while you’re looking for a new job, you’re actually learning something new, which will bode well for you during those coveted job interviews.
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3 Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Job originally appeared on usnews.com
