Top Tips for Getting Out of a Professional Rut

While some individuals may have the luxury of living a life of leisure, the majority of the population has to work at least once during their lifetime. Some people might be happy working in a position that allows them to pay the bills and live comfortably, even if this job isn’t particularly interesting or stimulating for them. Others, however, want to find a career that they can be passionate about and that gives them satisfaction every day. If you do find yourself relating more closely with the latter, you might be wondering how you can get more out of your job, especially if you are feeling stuck in a professional rut at the moment.

It can be very frustrating to feel as though you have got everything you can out of a certain role or perhaps begin to question whether this line of work is the right fit for you after all. You may be uncertain about what your next steps should be, particularly if it isn’t just your future that you have to worry about but how your choice will impact your family. While these are important considerations to make, you do need to think about how you can move forward so that you can find happiness and reward in your career. If you want to make some changes but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few ideas for you to think about.

Identify What is Making You Unhappy

The best place to start if you are beginning to feel dissatisfied at work is to figure out exactly what it is that’s bothering you. Do you find your colleagues difficult to work with? Are there problems with the management style that is impacting productivity and/or morale? Do you believe that you should be earning a bigger salary to reflect your skills and experience? Or do you simply have little interest in the industry you work in, and your passions lay elsewhere?

It’s important to understand what is making you unhappy so that you can make the right changes for yourself. While the thought of moving to new pastures might be tempting at this time, if this isn’t the real issue, you will likely find yourself feeling unhappy again within a few months or years. Although changing careers or job roles at different times in your life isn’t always a bad thing, for those who are looking for more stability and steady progression opportunities, finding the right fit sooner rather than later is key.

Take the time to carefully consider what is making you unhappy at work, and use this information to help you make the positive changes that you need.

What Do You Want for the Future?

This can be a big, overwhelming question to ask sometimes, and you may not always have the answer ready. Nonetheless, it’s just as important to think about as trying to decide what is dissatisfying you at work. Thinking about what you want for yourself in the future can help you consider your career path in more detail. For example, are you interested in living in another part of the world? If so, could a job that offers travel or a relocation opportunity be something to look into? If you plan to have a family, then a career that can offer you financial security and working hours that will give you time with your children is key.

You can’t predict the future, and your plans and wishes for your life may change, but it is important to think about what you would like to achieve for yourself outside of your career as well, as this can help you make smarter decisions when it comes to your job that will accommodate these other goals.

Think About Volunteering or Shadowing Opportunities

If you think you would like to change careers or you are interested in pursuing a specific role, you may want to think about trying these options out. Volunteering in a similar role, or shadowing another professional working in this position, can help you understand the responsibilities of the job in more detail. You can research these various jobs as much as you like online and through other resources, and this is recommended, but witnessing this role in person could be much more insightful than you may think. It’s the perfect opportunity to see what you can expect from the daily routine in that career path and ask the professional you are shadowing or volunteering with to talk to you about their thoughts and feelings regarding the role. They may also be able to offer you further advice on how you can pursue a job like this, particularly when it comes to gaining experience or applications.

Make a List of Your Transferrable Skills and Identify Gaps

If you are interested in switching career paths or transitioning into a new role, you might also want to start thinking about your current skill set. There are a lot of transferrable skills that you could use to your advantage, such as communication skills, organization, and time management; even having some basic computer skills may work in your favor. You might also want to consider some more specialist skills that could help you move up the career ladder or be useful in another role.

While you’re thinking about what you can do, take note of where there might be gaps in your professional development. Identifying the gaps in your skills will allow you to figure out what it is that you need to move forward on the career path you desire. This could be discovering educational pursuits such as a degree that could benefit you, like applying for the best MBA for leadership courses or training programs – this could be arranged by your employer  – and learning more about what a new role would require of you. For example, the best colleges that offer MBAs will offer plenty of advice online for management and leadership roles that dive deep into what you need to be successful. Learning this could give you the motivation to push your career forward.

Speak to Your Managers

You might also find that discussing some of your concerns with your managers could help you move past this rut that you’re in. Of course, you must remember to be respectful so that you don’t jeopardize your current position, but this could be a good way to get some advice and support from your colleagues. Your managers might be able to look at how they can offer you more support in your current role or make some recommendations regarding further training that you might find useful. In addition to this, they can provide further feedback on your performance, and this might help you look at how you can change your current approach to your role. These conversations could also be a good opportunity to see if you could take on some more responsibility if this is something that you are interested in. Having new challenges in your role may inspire you and bring some excitement back into your daily routine.

If one of the reasons you are finding yourself feeling unhappy at work is due to issues with another colleague or your team in general, this is another opportunity to discuss these grievances in a safe space. You might want to think about getting HR involved if you feel safer doing so or a union representative if you are part of one. Hopefully, bringing to light the problems you are dealing with could help you find a healthy resolution that creates a more positive working environment moving forward.

Speak to a Careers Advisor

If you do feel as though you are on the wrong career path, but you’re unsure about which kind of job would be right for you, then speaking to a careers advisor could shed some light on that for you. They will discuss with you the types of careers that you may be interested in, as well as assess your current skills and personality traits. Combining this information, a careers advisor could give you a few options to choose from for careers that you will likely enjoy and succeed at. Your advisor might also be able to point you in the right direction if you need to get a degree or other qualification to make a career switch or offer other tips to help bolster your resume.

You can look up career advisors in your local area or see if you can speak to one online if this is easier. If you’re not ready to meet with anyone in person yet, you might also find some quizzes and questionnaires to try that might be able to give you a little bit of insight into this area, too.

Invest More Time in Networking

Networking can be a lot of work, and it isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to do, but you might find it useful when you are dealing with a professional slump. If you are contemplating leaving your current position or making a career switch, speaking with other professionals could help you learn about potential opportunities. You might also be able to have conversations with people who have been in your position, and they can offer you some advice based on their experiences.

If you’re not sure about what you want to do regarding your career, at the very least, networking could be a good way to get inspired again. Looking at other successful individuals in your industry might help you find a love for what you do again or perhaps discover roles that you are truly passionate about. It could also be a great opportunity to get involved with some projects outside of the office, and collaborating with other professionals could look great on a resume and have the potential to open more doors for you.

Consider Taking Some Time Off

Choosing to take some time off from your career might not be the right option for everyone, but there are benefits to getting some distance from your job when you are feeling stuck. One of the reasons that you are feeling unhappy could be as simple as you need a break due to burnout, so taking an extended leave for you to recuperate and gain some perspective might be exactly what you need.

During this time, consider enjoying some traveling if this is something that interests you, or looks at some other pursuits that could be a healthy way to spend this time. Charity work, taking some courses or starting or enjoying a hobby you haven’t had a lot of time for lately are all great examples. You can also use this break from your career to think about what you want for your future and to look at other possibilities that might be better suited to you. You may even be surprised to discover that you miss your job and are looking forward to getting back to work and progressing in this field.

Consider if Your Professional Life is Truly the Problem

Another thing you should keep in mind is that it may not be your current job that’s the real problem. If you have previously enjoyed working in this role and for the company you are employed at, and there have been little to no changes to this environment, think about whether or not something else has been getting you down. Personal stressors and discontent could also be impacting your performance at work, and you might find yourself distracted and wanting to avoid the office. If you’re not sure whether work is truly the issue, take a moment to look at what might be happening at home that could be bothering you. Learning how to leave your problems at the workplace door may help you realize it isn’t your job at all that is causing these feelings.

It’s not easy finding yourself in a professional rut, but everyone goes through this at some point in their life. It can be scary to shake things up, particularly if you want to make big changes like switching careers. However, while this might be intimidating, it could also be one of the best decisions of your life. Remember that you will spend a lot of time at work during your adult life, and while other important things can bring you joy, it helps to be happy at work. If you would love to get out of your dreary cycle and start feeling passionate about your career again, use the tips above to help you figure out what to do next.