Getting Stuck In a Rut
One of your fears may be that your job will become boring and you will be in a rut. What do you do to keep from getting in a rut?
Think about the job situation you are about to enter. It will take 1-2 years before you become proficient at your job. After the initial confusion of a new job have wavered, you are likely to really enjoy your job. Then there will follow a couple of years where you become very proficient. Over time you will become bored because there’s nothing much new to learn. You would like to move on to a new challenge, but your boss would like to keep you in your current job. That’s when you feel like your career has stalled out.
What do you do about this situation? Here are some suggestions.
- Think about what you can do on your own to make your job more interesting. What new initiative might you be able to purse. What improvements can you make? There may be a number of things you can do to resolve your own problems.
- Talk with your boss about this. When you do talk with your boss, have a proposal for expanding your role or changing assignments. A savvy boss will know that he/she needs to help you become more satisfied or you will move on to another company.
- Examine your employer’s website to see if there are other positions you might like to pursue. You will need your boss’ support in pursing these.
- Review your resume and contact a placement agency that works with experienced people. This is a good way to test the market to see what else might be available. Be careful to wait until you are vested in your retirement plan before you do this.
Generally if your career has stalled it’s up to you to take the initiative to get it back on track.