This guide outlines the 5 top signs of career stagnation, and what you can do to address them and get your career going again.
No job stays on its “honeymoon” phase forever, and you may have since cooled down about a career path that you were excited to start a few years ago. That being said, there are several important differences that distinguish the development of a realistic and even-tempered attitude towards your job from the phenomenon of career stagnation—a process which can further lead to career burnout.
Overview: career stagnation
Career stagnation, or the experience of being stuck in a rut with regard to your professional endeavours, can happen for a lot of reasons. It can be the result of developing new ambitions that don’t match the ones you started with, or it can happen because you’ve hit a ceiling with regard to your current abilities.
Whatever the case may be, it’s important for you to acknowledge your current dissatisfaction with your career. The earlier you act on the road signs of career stagnation, the clearer your path will be towards a job that you genuinely like and find meaningful.
Signs of career stagnation
For many people on the brink of career stagnation, the best recourse may be to seek change in terms of one’s responsibilities, environment, or personal capabilities. The same may apply to you if you’re currently experiencing the following:
You Feel Like You Aren’t Properly Cultivating Your Talents
One reason you may feel stuck in your current career is because you know you have a lot of potential that isn’t being realised. You may already be working very hard at your job, but if your favourite skills aren’t being put to good use—or if you lack opportunities to develop new ones—it may be wise to tap new prospects for your personal development.
You can look for upskilling initiatives like SkillsFuture credit courses for a new career that you’re interested in pursuing, or you can explore industry-specific trainings or mentorship programs. You’ll be your best professional self when given the opportunity to cultivate your talents, so take the openings if they present themselves.
You See No Room for Growth
Another precursor for career stagnation and subsequent career burnout is the feeling that you’ve plateaued. Perhaps you’ve already secured the highest position that you can possibly attain within your company, and factors like the organisational hierarchy or internal bureaucracy make it impossible for you to grow any further.
If you’re the kind of person who actively wants to grow, learn new things, and meet new people—and if you have a feeling your current job will get in the way of that—seek a new role, look for a new job in the same industry, or enter a different field entirely. It won’t be easy for you to start from scratch, but you’ll be motivated to step up in new ways. That, in turn, may make you happier than the idea of settling for your current career.
Your Compensation No Longer Matches Your Needs
Money isn’t everything, as the old saying goes. But it definitely is a means to an end, and you’ll need it to fulfil other important goals in your life, like starting a family or continuing your education.
Knowing that your needs are going to evolve, it’s reasonable to consider whether your salary will do the same. You may be willing to step up and to take on new challenges, but if there’s evidence that your future salary won’t reflect that, consider pursuing greener pastures.
You’re Stuck in an Unchanging Routine
Does your current work routine feel like it’s exactly the same as when you started? Are you getting bored or restless checking off on all the same tasks? Some people like having a routine, but if there’s no variation to it, it’s easy to chafe and to feel dissatisfied.
The lack of variety or challenge in your current work routine may be weighing down on you, and in the long run this could deplete your mental and emotional resources. To remedy this, see if you’re eligible for a new role with more engaging responsibilities or join an industry whose work will keep you on your feet.
Your Future with the Company Looks Unclear
Lastly, even if you enjoyed working with your current company when you started, you may no longer see a clear place for yourself in their future. This may be due to risks like having your job phased out or seeing the company downsize. Or perhaps you’ve realised that a promotion or other leadership opportunity may not come your way due to differences in your organisation’s goals and your own.
What you do about this uncertainty is ultimately up to you. You can choose to stay on a little longer to see whether your futures will align, or you can prepare yourself to transition to a new company or industry. The fact remains that you need to figure out what you want out of your career in the long term and whether it’s still possible for your current job to meet your aspirations.
Should you switch to a new career?
Everyone’s circumstances are different, and the right career choice for one person may not necessarily resonate with another. Timing also depends on the person’s situation and how plausible it is for them to make such a big change.
All the same, there’s a chance that something good will happen when you acknowledge your career stagnation and make the choice to change careers. In the long run, you may end up happier, healthier, and more motivated to show up in all the ways that count.
