When your job no longer offers satisfaction or progression, it can be easy to feel stuck and unmotivated. Feeling unfulfilled at work can take a toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing. It’s natural to feel frustrated, helpless and overwhelmed when you don’t know what to do next. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many people find themselves feeling stuck in their job and uncertain of how to break free. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to get out of the rut and move on to a more rewarding and meaningful career. In this blog post, we’ll look at some practical advice for those who feel stuck in their job and don’t know where to turn next. We’ll cover how to identify what’s holding you back, the importance of understanding yourself and your motivations, and tips for taking action.
I Feel Trapped in My Job — What Should I Do?
11 reasons why you may feel stuck at your job
Listed below are a few causes of feeling stuck at work:
What is feeling stuck at your job?
When you’re unhappy with your work but feel unable to leave your position, you’re said to be stuck in your position. These factors may include your skill set, the job market, your finances, or another factor. It can be challenging to know what to do in these situations, but it’s crucial to realize that you’re not alone and that many people experience career stagnation at some point. Finding the best course of action begins with understanding what is causing these feelings.
11 things to do if you feel stuck at your job
Here are some approaches you can take if you feel stuck at work:
Reassess the role with your supervisor
There are times when you interview for a job and accept it, but your perception of the position is different from the day-to-day reality. This might be the result of a misunderstanding between you and the hiring manager or because your employer’s needs have changed. If you discover that your position isn’t a good fit, speak with your manager about how to change it and what duties and responsibilities you believe would make you happier.
Reevaluate your skill set
You can be ready for any conversations with your current supervisor or potential employers by being aware of and appreciating the skills you possess. Making a list of all of your skills, even those you don’t think are necessary for a job, is a good way to start learning to value your own abilities. You might have skills that you use in your personal or domestic life that you haven’t yet thought about using in your professional life.
Additionally, you can review your current and previous job descriptions to determine what skills you brought to those positions. To learn how others perceive you, you can also ask dependable colleagues for feedback on your strongest qualities.
Address any unhelpful fear
Some people experience fear of the unknown when situations like applying for jobs, speaking with supervisors, or accepting promotions occur. However, there are times when feeling afraid is simply a sign that you are successfully pushing yourself.
Talking about unhelpful fear with those closest to you to get their input and perspective is a good way to deal with it. You can also compile a list of advantages and disadvantages or conduct another analysis to determine whether you should be concerned or if you are worrying excessively.
Pursue growth opportunities
Being at ease at work or in a company is not necessarily a bad thing, but sticking to the same routine could mean passing up chances to improve your skills or advance in your organization. Learning a new skill or expanding your professional network are two possible ways to get started in challenging yourself to advance your career.
Learn the most relevant skills for your field
If your industry has advanced since you started working there and you haven’t received training on it, you might feel stuck because any career advancement might require those new skills.
Developing your skills through ongoing education, research, reading, or any other strategy that suits you is one way to deal with this problem. Depending on your industry and the resources available, your current employer might even assist you in paying for the acquisition of these new skills.
Pursue what you want
It’s a common misconception that you can only qualify for a better job if you’ve worked long enough in an entry-level position. If you want to advance but feel that you haven’t demonstrated your worth by holding down an entry-level position for a sufficient amount of time, you might feel stuck. However, you can think about applying if the position interests you and you are qualified for it.
Be wary of excuses
You may decide to hold off on looking for new opportunities while you wait and see how a situation at work plays out. These motives could be personal or professional, like awaiting the outcome of a relationship or a performance review. But the more you rely on this way of thinking, the more likely it is that you will feel stuck because there might always be something to wait for.
You can make plans for how things might go if you accepted a new position rather than waiting to see what happens, and you can even factor in your personal goals when selecting your next position.
Reassess what money means to you
Sometimes, even if you don’t like your job, you feel you can’t quit because it pays so well. Perhaps your personal financial obligations make you unsure of your ability to take a chance on a new job. Saving some money before you look for a new job can help you get out of this bind because you’ll be ready if you come across more fulfilling employment that pays less.
Broaden your skill set
There may not be many jobs similar to the one you’re in even though you’re a good fit for it because it requires a very specific set of skills and knowledge. Because they are unable to determine which skills will transfer to a new job, people in this situation may feel stuck.
In this situation, you have a few options. One is that you could acquire new abilities to strengthen the value you provide employers. Another is that you can consider how to tailor your cover letter and resume to other employers’ needs in order to apply your current skills.
Create a plan for your future
You may occasionally feel stuck if you are unsure of what to do next. You might be unsure of whether you want to pursue the same career path or you might be considering studying a different subject. The best course of action is to invest some time in researching careers and areas of interest. Making the best decision for you may take some time, but making a plan can give your current work meaning or give you ideas for what you should look for next.
Remind yourself of whats important to you
It can be simple to forget what is most important to you in a career once you’ve worked in one position or at one company for a while. Considering your values and aspirations outside of work, such as where you want to live or whether you want to spend more time with your family, can help you decide whether to stay in your current position.
FAQ
Why do I feel stuck in my career?
You might encounter times when you feel stuck and unsure of what to do next. You might be unsure of whether you want to pursue the same career path or you might be considering studying a different subject. The best course of action is to invest some time in researching careers and areas of interest.
What to do when you feel stuck in a job you hate?
- Be clear about what you can and can’t control. …
- Take time to look after yourself. …
- Make a list of pros and cons. …
- Make the most of your downtime. …
- Change how you think about your work. …
- Talk to someone. …
- Make a plan to find different work.
How long should you stay unhappy at a job?
Try to stay at your job for at least a year if you’re uncertain about it. Anything less than a year may raise a concern for a hiring manager, according to Sullivan. The one-year rule is still the best practice, but there are some indications that it isn’t as widely believed to be unbreakable as it once was.
