Get your career back on track

If you reach the conclusion that your career has stalled, you may be disappointed and confused as to what you can do jump start it. As with any problem, understanding the causes is essential to finding solutions. A stalled career isn’t necessary a product of your lack of ambition or slacking. Many have been forced into a slow progress simply because of the recent global recession, and how it dampened employers’ investment in human resources. By knowing the reason — or reasons — that put your advancement on hold, you can be in a better position to tackle them and proceed.

However, this process requires having realistic objectives. While making a significant change of direction isn’t impossible, many of the overall circumstances may not be changed, and their impact will continue to serve as a major headwind to your efforts.

Here are a few steps to take to get your career back on track.

Diagnosis

As mentioned, know your problems. Many careers end up taking the wrong direction or at least stalling because of sticking with a wrong job for too long, for example. There are also cases when initial enthusiasm for a job fades, and the job turns into a routine. While the jobholder still may be doing the required tasks and responsibilities, there is nothing spectacular that stands out, gets attention and warrants any sort of advancement opportunity. When you take action regarding your particular issues, you immediately will notice a quick pay off that hopefully will be an inspiration to put more time and effort into this turnaround project.

Making choices

Change isn’t easy, especially when the purpose to reignite a career. In many cases, you may find that you need to change jobs, put significantly many more hours of work or study, or even relocate for an opportunity that can be your solution. These choices may make you wonder whether the overall decision to shake things up is worthwhile or not. It is important at this juncture to be confident of your goal and willing to stay the course – even when the situation is not as convenient and comfortable as you hope.

Get feedback

From start to end, get as much help as you can. That help doesn’t have to be from a professional, even chat with trustworthy friends or coworkers may be helpful. Your goal is to identify real issues. When you’re too close to your own situation, it may be hard to see some of the details and getting feedback from others can be invaluable. Keep yourself surrounded with enablers, however. You will need all the support you can get from people who believe in your abilities and willing to tell you honestly what they think, with a realistic perspective.

Have a mentor

To even go further in seeking advice, have your own mentor. If you’ve already taken one step or more in the wrong direction, you can’t afford the trial-and-error approach to your career. Having a mentor, someone in the industry who can lead you in the right direction, is essential. Your selection, however, has to be for someone who is willing to do the job with you, and you also have to be comfortable with the person’s approach and advice. You can’t constantly pick and choose otherwise you will be defeating the whole purpose of working with a mentor. An initial agreement on the goals and the way to achieve them is a must, so is the discussion of how the two of you will manage your communication and follow-ups.

Mark progress

Having a goal in mind is an incentive but it also can be frustrating if your efforts don’t seem to bring you any closer to that goal. That is why you need to have some milestones along the way that can help you know that you’re on the right track. For example, if your goal is to reach a higher position within your organization or somewhere else; this may take months to achieve. Along the way, you may celebrate your progress when, for example, you complete a certification that is required for the desired job, receive a positive job review, etc. With these small wins, you will be able to keep yourself motivated for the whole course.

Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is currently an editor based in Seattle.