Are You Feeling Stagnant In Your Career?

October 30, 2019 December 19, 2019 / By Katherine / 183 Comments

You have a pretty good job. When people ask you about your job you don’t really have anything to complain about. After all, the company is great and well established, you get a regular paycheck to cover your bills, great benefits, etc. You don’t have any reasons to complain. Except, you still feel like something is missing. Your career feels stagnant and you are not growing. You know you could be doing so much more but you have no idea what or where to even begin.

Sounds familiar? You are not alone. In fact, you are in the same boat as over 80% of Americans who describe their current work situation. The reality is, you feel comfortable and your job is giving you everything you need. Why would you even think about changing careers or looking for new opportunities? The answer is, when your career becomes stagnant, you are not even close to living up to your full potential. Your work isn’t challenging, and you don’t even know what you are capable of.

Ten years ago, I was in a similar situation.

I had a job I couldn’t complain about. It provided me with a six-figure income. Not a huge one, but still six figures. It had great benefits which paid for my regular chiropractor visits. I really needed those visits due to my work demands. I was working for a well-known company in Los Angeles that created special effects for film and feature animation. My work wasn’t as exciting as it sounds though; I was simulating crowds and adding secondary elements to the shots.

I thought it would be nice to work on a main visual effect of the movie – the giant tornado. But I didn’t want to work for 12 or more-hour days and weekends to make it happen. So, I stuck to my usual small and low demanding workload. I did my best with what I was given, and I never asked for anything more. Only years later, when I got laid off, I was ready to be serious about my career change.

Why is it important to start now?

Why start now, when our economy is thriving and it’s hard to think about the possibility of losing your job due to downsizing? After all, it is 2019, not 2009. I don’t want to scare you with it, but I do know that during layoffs, people who are comfortable and aren’t growing in their careers by facing all the challenges with eagerness and enthusiasm are the ones who usually get cut.

When your career becomes stagnant and you are not growing in your role, you also start losing value to your employer. Every company that wants to grow needs employees who are growing with it. This is what makes our economy thrive on a larger scale. But, most importantly, don’t do this for your company, do it for you. You deserve a thriving career where you can be creative and eager to learn, grow and develop as you move along. It is not about money, success or feeling accomplished. It is about living up to your full potential. That would make your career truly remarkable!

Katherine Bouglai is a career transition coach and the founder of Blossom Career. She works with professionals in technology who want to discover their passion in life and build careers of their dreams. Her specialties include career change, resume development, job search strategies, job interview preparations, offer negotiations and other related skills.

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