We all get that feeling from time to time – the one that makes us feel like we’ve got the brakes on in life. That feeling of being stuck often comes with hitting a life plateau but when it’s your job you’re feeling stuck over, it can really impact the rest of your life. You want to see money, growth and possibility in your job but when there’s a ceiling in the way it can become difficult. If that sounds familiar to you, then you’re not alone.
Progression in your career doesn’t mean that you should be waiting around for a promotion or hoping your boss sits up and pays attention to your hard work. It should mean that you are taking control and pushing your career to new heights entirely. Are you ready to progress in your career? Good, because here’s how you can do it.
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Learn what it means to change
Career progression can only occur when you recognise that the time has come to move forward. Maybe it clicks one day that you’ve stopped learning new things and it’s feeling more painful than anything else to sit through those long and boring days. Career growth isn’t just about that next rung of the career ladder: it’s also about shifting sideways into a new arena and using the skills you already have to work for you. What matters is that you can recognise when you need to do it.
Lean into upskilling.
You are not a failure for wanting more and finding yourself unfulfilled in the career you have. One of the most effective ways that you can push through that career ceiling you’ve hit is to invest in yourself and your skills and the way to do that is to learn something new. This is where ASK Training’s digital marketing courses come in. If you’ve been working in a traditional marketing role, admin, customer service, or even sales, picking up digital marketing skills could completely transform your career path. These courses are designed to be beginner-friendly while still giving you a solid foundation in modern marketing techniques like SEO, social media advertising, Google Analytics, content marketing, and more.
Set yourself some goals.
Career goals are a must if you want to move. You need something to aim for and even if you like your job but you want to do more, it’s in these goals that you can detail what you want. Once you have chosen to progress, the next step is all about getting specific about it and pushing forward. Ask yourself what you want from your next role and then map out how you plan to get it. Sometimes, it’s about recognising that you’ll have to work more just to get to the next step, but it’s worth it if it offers you what you want!
Ask for – and accept – feedback.
Oh, it is not always easy to take feedback even when you ask for it, but talking to your manager or your mentor and asking for their input is a must if you want to grow. You need the good, the bad and the ugly and it’s vital that you take it with both hands. You want to grow and that means asking what skills or experience you need to reach that next level. Taking feedback on board allows you to see that you are able to do more and achieve more, you just have to want it enough!
Build out a professional network and use it.
There is no point in a professional spiderweb of excellence if you aren’t going to use that network to your advantage. Your network is your net worth, or so they say and when it comes to career growth, it’s absolutely true. Connect with people online on platforms like LinkedIn and start attending industry events. You’d be surprised just how many people are willing to help and if you’re looking to take a course, get a network built there, too. These courses are going to be packed with people with the same ideals as you and you need their support and advice if you want to do better in your industry.
Refresh your resume.
So, you’re looking at ways to go for it in your career, what’s next? Well, you need everything down on paper. You need your achievements on paper so that you can present yourself in the best possible light. Be clear and confident in your resume and don’t be afraid to showcase all of your skills. You deserve to be seen and heard and that means showing off and using your resume to do so.
Be open to new things.
Sometimes, career growth comes from going sideways rather than up. You don’t have to push through a ceiling if you can sidestep and move forward seamlessly. Your skills could transfer well into a new industry this way. Staying curious and open minded is important because you will find something good coming your way if you’re willing to accept it. The more skills you have, the more options you’ll have open and that’s exciting all on its own.
Believe in yourself.
You can do so much in your career where progression is concerned, but only if you have enough self-belief that you can do this. It’s easy to feel like you’re stuck but there is no such thing as a time limit on your job. Time will pass anyway, so why not do what makes you happy? You may as well work on yourself and keep pushing your career forward so that you can find fulfillment.
You don’t have to find this process of progression overwhelming. Sometimes, all it takes is one new course, one new skill or a new mindset to unlock new opportunities that you didn’t have before. If you’re feeling stuck right now, it’s time to stop waiting for it to change and make it happen – that’s where it all makes your life a lot better!
