Lately I’ve had several people contact me who’ve said, “I can’t seem to move up in my career. I keep getting stuck in the same low-level jobs and don’t know how to get out of this cycle and move up to something better. Help!”
Oftentimes there’s a simple explanation for this phenomenon. People take a lower-level job expecting to eventually be promoted to a higher level position, but never take action to ensure this will happen.
The Cycle
The cycle goes like this:
- You take a lower-level job telling yourself it’s a good foot-in-the-door and will provide an opportunity to grow in the company.
- You keep your nose to the grindstone and continue to work hard, hoping your boss will notice how good of a worker you are.
- After the first year, you get passed over for promotion.
- Then it’s two to three years later and nothing’s changed. You wonder why you’re still stuck in the same position and aren’t advancing.
- You begin to feel unappreciated, so you decide to look for a job with a different company.
- However you only apply for the same level job you’ve been in because you think it’s all you’re qualified to do since you haven’t been promoted.
- You accept the same level job at another company with the same hopes of growing and moving up in the company.
And then the cycle starts all over.
Breaking the Cycle and Creating Real Career Growth
So how do you break this cycle? By going in to a job with an intentional and focused plan.
The people who have suffered through these cycles are in them because they didn’t take responsibility for their own career growth. They went in with no plan of their own and instead expected the higher ups to recognize their potential and promote them.
But, just like a job doesn’t fall into your lap, opportunities for advancement don’t either. You have to do your part to grow in your career. But how?
Below are several actions you can take to jump start a plan for moving up in your career. I’ve also linked each action to paNASH’s various on-demand video courses that show you in more detail how to carry out each action. (Get 15% off each on-demand program from Sept. 18-25 when you enter the discount code FALL2019 at checkout.)
- Ask for feedback, both on what you’re doing well and on areas where you can improve.
- Network with people within your department, people outside your department, and people in the same industry.
- Set goals for yourself in your job in addition to the ones set by your supervisor.
- Help solve problems.
- Ask what it takes to get to the next level.
- Keep track of your accomplishments and share them with your boss.
- Know when and how to ask for a promotion or a raise.
In addition, paNASH provides a one-on-one personalized coaching track focusing solely on career growth. The Career Growth Track provides you an in depth plan you need to break the cycle. Also, it’s perfect for those who’ve just started a new job. It includes:
- Successful on-boarding in your new job.
- Preparation for promotion and advancement opportunities.
- Methods for asking for a raise.
- “Fire”-proofing yourself.
- Maintaining joy and challenge in your career.
- And more!
Don’t stay stuck! Move up!
Don’t stay stuck in your career! The power is in your hands to become unstuck and move up. You just have to learn how to wield your power by following the suggestions above. paNASH can help you do this in two ways:
- With paNASH’s on-demand programs available online (get 15% off each online program or the entire bundle from Sept. 18-25 when you enter the discount code FALL2019 at checkout).
- And, with the personalized, one-on-one Career Growth coaching track.
Contact paNASH today and break the cycle!
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