Get out of that rut

How do you know when you’re stuck in the mud? And how do you get out of it? Alan Patterson, of Carlton Resource Solutions, offers some advice

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YOUR career doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Gone are the days when people stayed in the same job their entire careers. In fact, recent studies indicate that the average worker will switch careers, not just jobs, several times over the course of their life.

So how do you know when you’re stuck in the mud?

One of the most difficult challenges people can encounter in their professional careers is admitting that they have reached a plateau.

Most people feel like this at some point in the course of their working life and let career opportunities pass by because they are afraid of change.

You should realise that when you drag your feet to the office, feel unchallenged at work or lack a clear picture of where your career is headed, this lack of motivation will also affect your personal life.

If you feel that you are stuck in a job rut, this could be the perfect opportunity to take stock and pursue a new career direction, change jobs or build on your existing skills.

Telltale signs that you are stuck in the mud include:

You drag yourself out of bed every morning, dreading another day at work, and count the days until the weekend.

You feel under-appreciated, underpaid and overworked.

You feel that the next rung on the corporate ladder is out of your reach and question if it is, in fact, the right ladder to be climbing.

Your outlook has become extremely negative and cynical against anything work-related.

You look at your watch every 10 minutes, awaiting the five o’clock whistle.

You find excuses to spend more time dealing with non-business-related matters in work time.

You find it difficult be enthusiastic or concentrate on tasks and are bored most of the time.

You feel that your talents are not being put to their best use and you’re not being given the opportunity to demonstrate your skills.

Individually, these points do not indicate complete job burnout, but if you can relate to a few, you could be in danger of slipping into a job rut. When it comes to getting “unstuck”, the onus is on you to make the change.

To get out of the job rut, you should pursue avenues which will assist you in developing your professional skills and keep you challenged intellectually. Universities and colleges offer a range of business education courses, with many of them allowing you to study online. By expanding your qualifications and developing new skills, you will open up a wealth of new career opportunities and possibly increase your chances of a promotion.

However, despite your best efforts, sometimes the only way to get out of the rut is to take an objective look at your situation. Do you feel you are in the right profession, do you want a new challenge and do you feel that you would be presented with better opportunities for growth at another company? If so, then fire yourself up and drive the hunt for a new job.

And if you are still unsure which waters to tread, go over your career goals with a consultant at a recruitment agency. They will assist you in looking at your various job options and help you build your CV to highlight your strengths and experience.

A career move doesn’t have to be about leaving to go to another company, and job advancement is no longer based only on moving up the ranks. Sometimes, it is about moving across the ranks and taking a sideways move. This sort of change can provide you with the opportunity to develop your expertise and understanding of the challenges in other departments.

Also, reaching the next rung on the career ladder isn’t always what it is cracked up to be as, in reality, it can take you away from what it is that you enjoy doing.

The notion of a job for life has, in many respects, gone. More than 20 years ago, many people would have expected to leave school or university and stay in the same job until retirement.

The trend today, however, sees more short-term contracts, career changes, part-time work and freelancing.

Those who are stuck in that rut but are nervous about stepping out into the unknown should not give in to frustration. Instead, take a few steps in a new direction and you may find your rut becomes a route to a more rewarding and satisfying career.

Recruiting for a wide range of technical and non-technical opportunities, Carlton, established in 1981, matches candidates to employers across the full spectrum of occupations in the accountancy and finance, commercial, HR and training, industrial, information technology, technical and engineering disciplines in the public sector and other corporate environments.

For more information, call 01224 650500, or visit www.carltonrs.com