Are you feeling stuck in your career and don't know what to do to get it moving again? Currently, 85% of US workforce employees feel the same way and aren't entirely satisfied with their careers. But just because you don't feel satisfied right now doesn't mean things can't or won't change or that you can't have a hand in making things better for yourself.
Instead of stagnating in your career and not doing anything about it, use these tips to help you push forward, keep moving, find joy in your job, and get it where you want it to be.
Find Your Purpose
This doesn't always mean finding the ideal job role; it means finding out why you're doing what you're doing and where you want to be. It might be that you need to jump sectors and find a completely new career path, or you want to climb the corporate ladder or even one day own your own business doing what you do now but not for someone else.
Take a step back and find out why you're doing what you are doing, what you want to be doing, and ultimately, what you want to get from your working career. It might be that you need to take a Strong Interest Test to help you find what you're best suited for to point you in the direction of a more suitable caterer to boost career satisfaction or simply learn more about who you are and what you can be capable of. You can also simply focus on your interests and likes to help you uncover exactly what you want your career to look like.
Set Goals
Once you know what direction you want to be moving in, then you need to set yourself achieveable actionable goals that can help you move from where you are now to where you want to be. It might be that you need to retrain completely, and your required education is a four-year-long course, meaning you need to look at meeting entry requirements to apply by a specific date to start your studies and get the ball rolling. Or it might be that you need to achieve a promotion within a specific time frame before you start looking at other options. Find your goals, set them, and do what you need to do to make them a reality.
Identify Opportunities
You need to be identifying opportunities that are going to help you get here. You need to be looking at the availability of such opportunities and how easy or difficult it is to get them and do what you need to do. The more you know about how these chances present themselves and the likelihood of them occurring, the more prepared you can be when the time comes.
For example, if a promotion within your company only happens every few years, you will know what you are working towards and how long you will have to wait; however, if the same role is available more frequently with a new company, it can help you decide if you want to move to take advantage of increased opportunities.
Find a Mentor
Depending on your goals and the type of career you want to achieve, finding a mentor can be a good idea. It might be that you need someone to help you boost your professional confidence and learn about what it takes to climb the next rung of the corporate ladder. It could be a business mentor who is getting you ready for setting up on your own business or talking to a career counselor to help you uncover opportunities and steer you in the right direction. But having someone in your corner helping you to get to where you need to be can be invaluable and a great way to make sure your dreams are becoming a reality, not just an idea in your head.
Grow Your Professional Network
Networking allows you to grow your contact and help you get your name on the tongues of people who can help you to get to where you want to be. It could be that you grow your network with old colleagues or managers, or you make new connections with those who can help you move forward.
Plus, the more people who know about you and what you do, the more feedback you can garner to help you put yourself in a stronger position and grab more opportunities to push you forward.
Master Your Craft
If you want to improve your career, then you need to improve what you're capable of and boost your knowledge and skills. This can be simply learning more about your industry or the company you work for so you know exactly what people are looking for and position yourself as the number one candidate for any future opportunities. Or it can be returning to school and training relevant qualifications that support career growth and development. Whatever it takes, do more, learn more, and never rest on your laurels thinking you know it all. Be open to learning, feedback, and constructive criticism; always learn and improve what you do.
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Improve Communication skills
Communication skills are vital for all areas of your personal and professional life, so paying attention to how you personally communicate and how others react to the information you reply to or respond to your communication can help you to make positive changes and improve your communication skills. Take time to understand body language, read the room as they say, and work on your verbal and written communication skills so you know you're communicating clearly and concisely and others are on the same page as you.
Improving your career chances and managing career growth does not always just happen for everyone. For many people, you need to put in the time and effort to get from where you are now to where you want to be, boost your employability, and work through the ranks to help you find the ultimate career satisfaction.
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Bottom line: Career growth happens when you combine visible results with strong relationships and a willingness to keep learning. Set clear goals, build your network, and ask for feedback often, these small habits compound into big opportunities over time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I'm ready for a promotion?
Look at whether you're already performing tasks above your current role, receiving positive feedback from managers and peers, and taking initiative on projects without being asked. If you're doing the job before you have the title, it's time to have that conversation with your manager.
What's the fastest way to grow my professional network?
Start by reconnecting with former colleagues and classmates rather than only chasing new contacts. Attend industry events, join relevant LinkedIn groups, and offer help before asking for favors. Consistency matters more than volume, a handful of strong relationships beats hundreds of surface-level connections.
Should I focus on one skill or develop several at once?
Pick one core skill tied directly to your next career goal and master that first. Once it becomes second nature, layer in a complementary skill. Trying to improve everything at once usually leads to slow progress on all fronts rather than real growth in any one area.
How often should I ask for feedback at work?
Aim for a quick check-in every few weeks rather than waiting for annual reviews. Regular, informal feedback helps you adjust course early and shows your manager you're serious about improving. Ask specific questions like "what's one thing I could do better this month?" to get more useful answers.
