Are You Stuck in Your Career?

"Only two more color clients, that's only one and a half more hours until this day is done," A thought I often had to myself while I looked at my book almost every day. I counted the hours until Saturday at 4 pm because that's when a Hairstylist finishes their week.

I was living for the weekend. But why? I was fully booked, worked at a salon where I liked who I worked with, loved my clients, was talented, and made good money. What more was there?

44% of employees are "job seekers," according to Willis Towers Watson's 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey. It sounds like needing a job change is a common theme.

So what do you do if you have similar thoughts to mine about your career? Here are 4 steps to help you get unstuck:

1. Keep a Draining and Exciting list.

Not your average pro-con list over here. This list is the 'what is taking away my energy?' and 'what is firing up my energy?' list. Pay attention to your days; Did you have a meeting that went in circles, and you were mentally screaming inside? What about an impossible client? Put those in your draining bucket.

On the flip side, did you solve a problem you have been working hard on for months? Did you leave a meeting feeling excited about a new project? Jot those down under excited! Keep a running journal of these moments; they will help you see what common themes are holding you back.

2. Look at your peers

This one can be a hard pill to swallow, but when I went back and forth about my career, my mother said, "do you want to live anyone's life around you right now?" MIC DROP….NOPE! It would help if you looked around you. Do you have someone you aspire to be around you? If you do, find a way to interact more with this person, connect with them and pick their brain. If you don't have anyone who inspires you, we may have gotten to the part of the problem.

3. Make a Pro-Con List

Yes, we still have to do one of these. These are more real items; hours, salary, ROI type things you gain in your career. A lot of Hair Stylists love their flexible schedules. But I hated working Saturdays. Technical engineers appreciate the casual wardrobe and company atmosphere. But maybe a fast-paced, constantly changing environment isn't for you. People in Finance love that paycheck; there is nothing wrong with that. But perhaps you have done it for so long that you are bored with it. These items are important factors when making a significant change; make sure you can walk away from the benefits of your current job.

4. Inventory your findings

Now that you have a high-level view of what's happening, it's time to inventory. What does all this tell you? Do you need to make a pivot to a new industry? You may be interested in a role in a different department (I have done this one too).

I love to solve puzzles, and I can also scan people and get to the root of why they are hesitant to change (thank you, 13+ years of doing hair). These skills helped me succeed in Business School and serve me daily in my career. I also wanted the opportunity to support myself financially, work with my mind more than my body, and climb the corporate ladder.

Once you figure out what you want, you can then take action. You can look for new roles specifically focused on the things that excite you from your list. You could switch teams because you truly admire that Director of Marketing, and they would be an excellent mentor. It could show you are totally in the wrong career, which will be more than a quick jump. The first step is getting to the root of building your future.