Culled from Glassdoor.com
Here are a few of their reasons for feeling stuck:
- “I really want to leave my current position… but financial responsibilities make it essential for me to stay for now,” an employee at an aerospace engineering company shared.
- “I’d love more of a challenge, but I’m pregnant and have a great work-life balance now — whereas my spouse does not — so parenting mainly falls on me,” another commenter said.
- “[I’m] trying to find a new role, but I’m barely getting any interviews — though the job market in my field has picked up a bit. I’m feeling demotivated right now,” a project coordinator added.
So, what’s behind the psychology of feeling trapped, and how do you get unstuck in a job? Mel Plett and Francesca Ranieri — the talent, business, and leadership experts behind the podcast Your Work Friends — weighed in.
Stagnant career growth factors
Countless factors are fueling this professional malaise, but one of the most frequently cited is poor management. Though some workers consider “managing up” to be a work-around, experts warn that it’s not a long-term solution.
“Relying on one person to be your cheerleader is dangerous,” Ranieri warned. “For example, the minute something happens to that person’s social capital, it hurts yours, or they leave for an opportunity outside of your organization and now you no longer have their internal support for promotion.”
Weighing job hopping in an uncertain market
Despite feeling stuck, employees have no guarantee that the grass will be greener in another gig, and that uncertainty has led to less job hopping, which could be mistaken for company loyalty. And some workers — particularly Gen Z workers — are avoiding promotions in favor of greater autonomy and work-life balance.
Even employees in the famously well-compensated consulting and tech jobs want to leave. Plett says employees have to figure out how much they’re willing to take in shaky times when choosing whether to stay or go.
“Everyone needs to decide for themselves what their tolerance threshold is. During challenging times, you may have to decide what you’re willing to tolerate (for the paycheck, for example). Ultimately, you need to do what’s right for you and your financial and mental health.”
In more certain times, she says the three-legged stool approach is helpful when making the determination.
“In order to thrive at work you need the three-legged stool: respect, relationships, and meaningful work,” Plett explained. “Ideally, you check in with yourself every quarter to measure these three elements. If one area isn’t doing so great, ask yourself if it is something that you can change; what is in your span of control? If it is not something you can nurture or change, then it means that stool is broken, and it is likely time to look for a new opportunity.”
Expert advice on feeling stuck in your current job
Plett says that making any job work for you starts with identifying the core elements of what you need in a role. She breaks it down into three steps:
- Reflect on your current experience and what you have learned about yourself.
- Outline the strengths that you bring to the workplace, and identify how you like to use them in your day-to-day work environment.
- Get clear about your personal and professional priorities, and what you value right now.
“At the end of the day, it is most critical to look at yourself as your own brand, regardless of your leadership,” Ranieri adds. “If you’re a one-person brand, your clients are people who work with you, for you, and beside you. The most productive and healthy relationships are making sure people are clear on who you are and the value you bring. Your boss is just one of those stakeholders.”
If you’re feeling stuck and wondering if you’re alone, Plett and Ranieri say restlessness is normal, and they encourage job seekers to hang in there.
“For everyone feeling restless – remember this is just another wave to ride out, the tide will shift again,” says Plett.