Are you dragging through your days at work wishing that 5 o'clock would roll around so that you can go home and catch the latest reality TV show? If you're feeling bored, unenergized, and unfocused in your current position, it's time to kick your career into gear.
Here are some kick-in-the-pants tips to get your career moving in the right direction: forward.
Self-Access
Co-authors of the book "The Girl's Guide to Kicking Your Career Into Gear: Valuable Lessons, True Stories, And Tips For Using What You've Got (A Brain!) To Make Your Worklife Work For You," Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio suggest that you begin by asking yourself what it is that you find frustrating about your job. Is it your boss? Your daily responsibilities? Your coworkers? Are you not making the money you feel you deserve?
"Depending on the source of the frustration, make an action plan for yourself to change the situation," says Yorio. "The next step is to ask yourself what you may be contributing to the situation. And then actively address the problem by asking for what you want, changing your job, confronting a coworker, or even start researching a new career."
Overcome Fear
Start by putting your fear into perspective. "Tell yourself that there is no fear bigger than the goals you have for yourself," says Friedman.
Whether your fear is public speaking, taking on a higher profile assignment, or asking for a much needed and deserved raise, you must face fear in order to move your career forward. "The point is to not ignore them because fears don't go away; they just get bigger and soon will be impacting your career," Friedman.
Dust off Your Resume
If you've become comfortable in your present position, chances are you haven't looked at your resume in a while. People who advance are always ready for their next move. You simply never know when a new position may open up in your present company, or when a great opportunity will come your way somewhere new. Those who have their resume ready will be able to respond to new opportunities with relatively little effort compared to those who haven't updated their resume in several years.
Cheryl Palmer of Call to Career, a career coaching service, suggests maintaining a record of your accomplishments as you go along in your job to help you keep your resume up-to-date.
Do Good
"If your job feels humdrum and you feel like you could do it with your eyes closed, but it's not feasible for you to look for greener pastures at this time, you might consider mentoring someone who is less experienced in the field to pass along what you have learned over the years," says Palmer.
"You might also look at taking on collateral duties, such as chairing a committee or getting cross-trained in a new area."
Be Open to Change
Finally, the only thing that may be standing between your present reality and your dream gig is limited thinking.
"If you aren't sure what it is you want then start tapping into your network," says Yorio. "Ask everyone you meet what they like about what they do, and be open to new ideas and opportunities. People often get stubborn when it comes to how they see themselves at work, which makes it difficult for other people to help them think big."
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