Find Your Opportunity

When someone tells me they are at a dead end in their career, I usually ask questions. There are many reasons why someone may feel that they no longer have new opportunities. Rarely do I find that they are actually at a dead end.

Here are some reasons why you might feel that you have reached the end of the road in your career.

1. You are tired of your career or burned out.
2. You have hit the salary ceiling.
3. You see no opportunity for advancement.
4. Others are being promoted, but you are not.
5. Advancing requires you to make a much larger personal sacrifice.

Whatever the reason, you need to identify it and then validate it. Next you must take action. If you feel that you are in a rut, you probably are. Are you responsible? If you feel like you are burned out, you probably are. How did you get there?

If you have truly discovered that you have lost your passion for career, you must start addressing the issue today! You need to put a plan in action to change it. You are never too old to go back to school. People change careers. Most are glad that they did it. Others find their real passion in the process.

If you have hit the ceiling with your salary, you must ask yourself two questions.

1. Do you still love what you do?
2. How can you become more valuable?

If you love what you do, you have a homework assignment. Find someone in your field who is successful and start picking their brains. Start looking for opportunities to become more valuable to your employer. Good employers recognize employees that are valuable to the organization. They are also willing to pay more for employees that are technical experts, but also have strong business skills. If you understand the business, learn something more technical. It is critical that you start a pattern of thinking outside of the box.

If you see no opportunity for advancement start applying for internal positions that you feel you may not be totally qualified for. Many times hiring managers look for employees within the company with a good track record and that have potential to move to the next level. Potential sometimes outweighs experience.

There are times when you have reached your potential within one organization and you need to find another company where you can fly higher. Consider your options wisely. The grass is rarely greener on the other side; however, the opportunities may be just what you need to propel your career to the next level.

If co-workers are being promoted and you are passed by repeatedly, you must figure out why you are not being chosen. If you do not get the job, go back to the hiring manager and ask for honest feedback. Most good managers will tell you why they did not select you. Learn and take action.

Have you demonstrated your true worth? Perhaps you are not perceived as a top performer even though you are a great performer. Why? Start observing what the top performers do. How are they perceived? What makes them stand out? Good companies promote their best performers. It is expensive for organizations to lose their top performers. You need to be willing to be vulnerable and ask your manager, your peers and those who report to you how you can do better.

Finally if you are in a situation where you are being asked explicitly or implicitly to put your family on the altar to advance, DO NOT DO IT! No career, job, or opportunity is worth sacrificing precious time with your family. If you are looking for a new job, look for opportunities that give you more flexibility in your schedule. Explore home-based businesses or other entrepreneurial opportunities.

If you find yourself at a dead end, turn around and find your opportunity.