Take a look back at your career progress in 2012. Did you get that promotion you wanted? The raise you deserved? The new responsibilities you craved?
If not, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
It just means you’re human! In fact, a recent VitalSmarts survey showed that a whopping 97 percent of employees reported having a “Career-Limiting Habit” that holds them back from achieving their full potential. Among others, these include:
- procrastination
- resistance to change
- unreliability
- responding with “it’s not my job”
- projecting a negative attitude
Habits like these could explain why you’re stuck in a career rut. The good news is, you have the power to get yourself unstuck – it’s just up to you to take the first steps!
Use these tips from A.R. Mazzotta to develop better habits that will make your job more rewarding and challenging:
- Establish your goals. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever get there? Imagine your ideal career. Write down a detailed description and keep it in a place where you’ll see it frequently. Then, critically examine your current position. Could it potentially lead to your dream job? If not, don’t be discouraged. Commit to making your existing job a stepping stone to a better future, by being as engaged as possible and learning as much as you can.
- Uncover barriers to career success. List all of the hurdles, pet peeves, and problems that stand between you and your ideal job. These could include everything from having an apathetic boss to not having enough responsibility. For each obstacle, decide whether or not it’s within your control to change. Cross off the barriers you can’t control, and brainstorm ways to overcome the remaining ones. Positive actions like these will help you get rid of the feeling of being “helpless” or “stuck” in your career – and put you back in the driver’s seat.
- Seek others’ input. Talk to outside experts, mentors or trusted colleagues to find out what you may be overlooking. Their insights may help you uncover new career alternatives, options for development or personal characteristics which may be holding you back.
- Scrutinize your attitude. The way you think about your career, boss and company can greatly impact your behavior. If you continually tell yourself that your boss is an apathetic jerk, you will automatically respond to him more negatively. Simply put, negative thought cycles promote negative actions that can undermine your career development. If your current job, boss or company doesn’t live up to your expectations, try to adjust your attitude. Find the positives in your situation – and if you can’t, find a new job in Connecticut as soon as possible.
Get Out of Your Career Rut with A.R. Mazzotta
Now is the time to jump-start your career! Follow this link to find out more about A.R. Mazzotta’s temporary and direct hire positions in Wallingford, Westbrook and Middletown, CT.