Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
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It’s pretty easy to figure out whether or not you’re in a career rut. A telltale sign is that queasy feeling you get on a Monday morning – the dread of having to go to a job you hate. You must deal with the same boring people, forcing yourself to go through the motions of your tedious day. And, though, I understand that you can’t always just up and quit a job, there are some things that will bust you out of a career rut! Keep in mind, it’s going to take some guts, energy, and consistency! Let’s get you out of that rut!
Bust You Out of a Career Rut #1: Start Your Research
If you are working right now, chances are you have marketable skills under your belt. And, the longer you’ve been on that job, the better it looks to prospective employers. Start browsing the positions that fit your skill set. However, don’t just look for positions that are the same as the one you have now. Remember, you are not happy with the type of work you’re doing. It’s time to spread your wings and find something that will not only pay your bills but fulfill you at a deeper level. Moving up the career ladder is great and all, but don’t sacrifice yourself to do it.
If you’re fed up with your career in general and want to move to a different industry, research courses for working professionals in the industry you desire to move to. If you’re after more money than you currently bring in, investigate high demand careers and the salaries you can expect once you’ve finished training. You could also approach any career-savvy friends or connections to check for opportunities.
Bust You Out of a Career Rut #2: Get Some Job-Search or Interview Coaching
Getting the career that you want won’t happen overnight. Just like everything else in life, if you want it, you have to work for it. If you really need some serious training for the career change you want, try interview coaching. The problem with many professional women is that they are very good at what they do in their respective companies, but they have no idea how to sell themselves on the wider job market. A job search or interview coach can help you pull together the facts, your experience, and your personality in a way that gets results.
Bust You Out of a Career Rut #3: Don’t Appear Nervous or Desperate
It’s important to stay calm and collected when searching for a new job or career, especially during the interview process. Nobody finds extreme nervousness or over-anxiousness attractive. I know this might be easier said than done, considering you may not have been on a job interview for a while. This is time to get in the mirror and practice what you want to say or roleplay an interview with a friend or family member.
During an interview, your goal is to find a balance between showing why you are the best candidate for the job and why they are the best company for you. It’s a good idea to make sure you can align yourself with the values of the company before you get too far into the process. This will certainly help the conversation flow better and ease the tension you may have.
Bust You Out of a Career Rut #4: Set Reasonable and Manageable Goals
Finally, make sure that your career goals remain reasonable and manageable. It may take you months to find a quality position in your field that promises the things you truly want. Set up front what is negotiable and what is not. That way you won’t be tempted to accept a position that you really don’t want just because you’re tired of the process. I once heard that to land a good job that pays what you need, you can expect to spend approximately one month looking per $10,000 you want to make. In other words be realistic and do what you can.
