Many people looking for a job find themselves frustrated, wondering why they cannot find the right opportunity. For some reason, their career has not taken off as it should have. If this sounds like you, look at the following list of reasons why your career may not be taking off:
Having the Wrong Perspective
Having the wrong perspective can be a significant roadblock when it comes to achieving your goals. If you see the world only in terms of what you don’t have and do not appreciate what is already there to enjoy, you will complicate life. When you are young, you tend to look at things through rose-colored glasses, but as time goes on, this view can change into something that takes away from your happiness.
Think about how lucky you are to be alive instead of looking at what you have and comparing it with others. Of course, you can’t control the circumstances that life throws your way, but you can always choose to see things through a positive lens instead of a negative one.
Not Having a Mentor
Not having a good mentor can have many negative impacts on your career. Maybe you are just not where they are yet in their careers, or you need someone to help guide and direct what steps to take next. Either way, this is something that some people may not be able to offer for various reasons.
Perhaps someone is very busy and would not be able to get back to you for several weeks or months. If they are the only person that can offer what you need, then this could lead to a lot of waiting around on your part. They may also have no interest in advising because their career has gone well enough already, and they do not want to take on another mentee at all.
Always look out for yourself and think about whether it’s worth staying with such an adviser. Suppose there isn’t any good progress towards your goals together. It is the primary factor to consider when you want to Find a Mentor. Look at what you will learn most and your interaction with the mentor.
Not Networking
It is essential to network if you want your career to be successful. There are many opportunities for networking, including lunch with coworkers or friends who have jobs that interest you. You could also volunteer at an event where professionals in the industry will attend, so they can see what skills and knowledge you bring to the table.
If these ideas seem overwhelming, consider using a service like LinkedIn’s inmail feature, which allows you to send messages directly to people of influence without revealing your identity until they respond. People are more likely to read it knowing that you used their name instead of receiving emails from unknown job seekers every day.
No Passion or Extra Effort To Progress
You can be a great worker by giving your best effort to everything you do. However, if that is not enough, then it might just mean that you have been testing the waters for too long and have yet to figure out what it is that you want to do.
If this is not the case and your work ethic has been stellar, then perhaps it just means that you aren’t passionate about what you are doing or at least enough to take things one step further. An easy way of telling if this might be the problem is by looking back on how far you have come since day one. Have there been any significant steps forward? Or would things look pretty much as they did a year ago?
If passion isn’t an issue and movement has occurred over time, maybe motivation needs some tweaking. A great first place to start figuring out whether extra effort could push things along more quickly is thinking through these questions: What am I working towards right now? What are my goals in terms of career advancement over the next year, five years, and ten years? Are they realistic, or is it about time I reevaluate them to ensure that what I am hoping for doesn’t seem too far-fetched?
Inadequate Research and Information
Inadequate research and information can hurt you in several ways. First, if you gather inaccurate data or rely on unreliable sources. You may be basing your arguments on false promises or using logical fallacies to justify the conclusion that your argument is valid when it isn’t. Second, preliminary research can mean not being aware of all available options for career advancement, which means missing out on an opportunity that might have been a good fit for you.
Conclusion
Your career may not have taken off for many reasons. For example, you may have been born into a family or environment where you were not encouraged to pursue your dreams and aspirations, so you grew up thinking it was okay not to try anymore.
Or maybe you had a lot of responsibility as a young child that forced an early focus on survival rather than following your passions.
The main thing is don’t give up! If you want this career – whatever it might be – then keep going with it until something comes along that allows you to pursue your goals. The world needs more creative leaders who are willing to take risks to bring about positive change for everyone around them.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
At Total Career Solutions, we offer the expert, knowledge, experience, and insights on how to get your dream job. Book a free 15-minute consultation with our professional career consultants to learn more.
