7 Reasons You Might Be Feeling Stuck at Your Job

7 Reasons You Might Be Feeling Stuck at Your Job7 Reasons You Might Be Feeling Stuck at Your JobAt some point in your career, youre likely to feel like youre in a rut. Maybe you took a job for the money thinking that its temporary, and five years later, youre still there. Or youve signed on for a sttte you were told was one thing and suddenly you realize youre wearing 20 hats- and hardly any of them are the ones you thought youd be wearing. Though you may feel stuck when these career roadblocks crop up, there are concrete ways to circumvent them. Here are seven common career mistakes that can trip you up and how, with some proactive work, you can overcome them and tackle your current job (and future jobs) with renewed perspective and purpose.1. Taking a Job for the Money- Then Feeling Like You Cant LeaveA lucrative job can sometimes be like a siren song It pulls you in because the money is too attractive to resist, but then you find yourself in a role that makes you unhappy. For inst ance, you took a role as a consultant because the pay is high, but now you dont have any work-life balance because your career is all-encompassing. At certain ages and certain stages, your career is number one. But as youre building your career, youll start looking toward your overall life goals How does the job or career that Ive selected fit into all the other things that I want in life? explains Bonnie Diamond, career management consultant at global career management agency Right Management. What to do if you land in a high-paying job that is affecting your overall quality of life? Diamond recommends creating an exit plan, a budget, and a timeline. You may say, Ill work really hard at this job for the next two years and sock away money so that I can look for a career change that will give me more satisfaction on the personal side.And while you remain in that job, keep an open mind. Observe other people that you work with and see what type of projects they are on and if any of tho se might be a better fit for you, adds Victoria Crispo, managing partner and career coach at Morganville, NJ-based Career Services USA. There may actually be an opportunity at the same organization that fits you better.2. Taking a Job Without a Full Understanding of the RoleSearching for a job is a lot like dating, says Diamond We look for someone who has certain characteristics, but in the end were looking for the fit, the ability to work together, get along together, and have a lot of the same values and life goals, she explains. So, what happens when that great job you take isnt the sterling suitor you expected? If you feel that youre seeing your job responsibilities change, schedule some time with your direct supervisor, suggests Crispo. Be prepared to present your case in a way to explain this is what you understood you were hired for, and these are your skills and how you feel you really fit this type of role.To try to avoid getting into the scenario in the first place, dont f orget that youre an equal player in the equation when youre seeking a job. Do your due diligence, talk to people whove worked at the company, and thoroughly research the organization and the culture on sites like Glassdoor. If you see common themes throughout the reviews, take them into account, explains Crispo. But also once you get to the einstellungsgesprch process, really use that as your opportunity to interview your interviewer and the company as much as theyre interviewing you.3. Getting Too Comfortable in a PositionThe challenge in staying in the same job for years is that when its time to look for a new role, the perception can be that your career has stalled. Career management is managing your career the same as you manage every other piece of your life, advises Diamond. We need to be forever learning and improving our skill set, being current, being flexible, being up on technology, being aware of whats going on in the industry. A big piece is knowing how to market yourse lf Have you played many roles within that job? Have you been with the company through times of change? Be clear about your own personal branding statement- what you bring to the table that no one else does.And never underestimate the value of joining professional organizations. You may be interested in event planning but youve never worked in the field. So, join the conference committee of a professional association, advises Crispo. And a hobby or interest can open up unexpected career opportunities. Maybe you start a book club, and if that book club is joined by people who are doing a variety of different things in different industries, it will open up your network, she explains.4. Working in a Specialized Role in a Shrinking FieldThere are benefits and drawbacks to having a specialized role. In an online search, if somebody has very specific skills, that can make them very hirable, explains Diamond. The flip side is when that niche is in a field thats not as significant as it once was. If youre in retail today, you need to be looking at e-tail because its not going away. If youre in technology and your product isnt on a mobile app, beware. Youve got to really be watching and in this world of fast-changing technology, were only as good as the skills that we have.Still, regardless of how specialized your skills are, they can be transferable to another industry. Crispo recommends taking inventory of your strengths and enlisting friends and family members to help you. Sometimes the outside perspective is really helpful, she says. Especially if youve been in the same career and doing the same thing for a long time, you may not really even be aware of what youre excelling at.5. Allowing Your Skills to Get Out of DateIts never too late to update your skills. In fact, if you feel youre not growing in your position, take a proactive approach to rectifying that. Talk to your employer and ask about opportunities for further training and professional development- and be prepared to explain how it benefits the company. Be able to say, If I was able to learn X, Y, Z, I could do things like this, says Crispo. Give a good argument for why its important for you to gain this skill in your current job. In the end, keeping your skills fresh is an investment in yourself just as you might have invested in yourself or your parents invested in you and sent you for a college education, explains Diamond.6. Staying in a Role Too Long Out of FearInertia in a career can happen because of the fear of making a move. They say that usually you make a change when the pain of where you are is greater than the pain of the unknown, says Crispo. Its a common issue that a lot of people deal with- that feeling of being stuck. If this sounds like you, its a good time to start brainstorming with a friend or family member or a trusted colleague about ways to make a change. Take it in steps because it took you a long time to get you to that point of feeling stuck. It may take a few steps to get out of it as well, Crispo adds.7. Getting Out of Touch With Your Values and DriversManaging your career is looking at a long-range picture of your professional accomplishments and your life, says Diamond. The trick is that sometimes we lose sight of the things that are really important to us because we go on autopilot in a job. We do an exercise with our candidates called values and drivers that allows you to take a look at whats important to you- what are your deal-breakers, what are the things you must have and what are the things you must avoid. You really need to be true to yourself. If, for instance, you really aspire to work for a nonprofit but are firmly ensconced in the corporate world, figure out an action plan to make that transition. It may not happen overnight- or even in a year- but you can plot a course now so that it becomes an eventual reality.More From DailyWorthWhat Your Boss Wont Tell You (But You Should Know)The Worst Money Mistakes You Can Make at Any Age10 Easy-to-Fix Cover Letter MistakesPhoto of paper clips courtesy of Shutterstock.