4 Signs Your Career Is Going Nowhere — and What to Do About It

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It may be time for a big change. 

We all run into periods where we’re less satisfied with our jobs. Maybe you’ve been assigned a mind-numbingly boring project. Or maybe your company has implemented a freeze for six months, so your chances of getting promoted internally are pretty much zero.

These situations and negative feelings tend to be temporary in nature. But here are some signs that your career is really going nowhere.

How to know when your career is stalled

You can’t remember the last time you got promoted or received a raise: You may not get a raise every year at your job, and promotions can be tricky to come by. But if it’s been, say, five years or more since you moved up at work or saw your pay increase, then perhaps you’ve gotten stuck in a bad situation.You’re growing your skills, but you’re not able to put them to good use: You’ll often hear that it’s important to keep growing and developing as an employee. But if you’re making that effort and your newfound skills aren’t being utilized at all, it’s a sign that you may be in the wrong role.You’re not being challenged at all: Some people don’t mind just coasting at a job. But if you’re someone who prefers to be challenged, and that just isn’t happening, then it doesn’t bode well for your career.You’re not motivated to do a good job: People whose careers are stalling tend to fall victim to burnout. Once that happens, your motivation level might plummet. That could not only leave you stuck in a dead-end job, but also put that job at risk.

It may be time for a career change

If these signs apply to you, then the solution might boil down to a new career — one that allows you to grow professionally and financially. Of course, a career change isn’t something to just dive into. You’ll need to figure out what it is you really want to do, and you’ll need to prepare for some financial upheaval.

Often, changing careers means starting over at the bottom. That could mean taking a pay cut. So before you embark on a career change, assess your savings and make sure you have enough money in the bank to cover a few months’ worth of bills.

A recent SecureSave survey found that 67% of Americans couldn’t cover a $400 expense that popped up out of nowhere with money in the bank. If you’re in that boat, you’ll want to get to a stronger place financially before pursuing a new profession.

You should also think long and hard about what you want out of a job, and how you want to spend your days. Talking to a career counselor may not be a bad idea, either.

Finally, once you narrow down your choices, talk to people who work in the roles you’re interested in. Ask what their days are like and learn about the pros and cons of their respective industries.

You deserve a career you find engaging, challenging, and rewarding. And you also deserve one that’s lucrative and allows you to meet your financial goals, from buying a home to retiring securely. If you go about the process the right way, you might end up in a much better job situation — and your career might really start to take off.

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