If you feel like you’ve overstayed in your job, the pointers in this article will guide you to take the right steps to get a better job.
You have been at your workplace for more than seven years now. By this time, you have a routine that works for you, but somehow you can’t fight the feeling that you’ve overstayed in your job. However, you brush it off because you feel like changing your work environment would be too much of a hustle.
When you’ve been in a place for too long, it becomes part of your life without you noticing it. You get so used to that job that you can do it with your eyes closed. It becomes your bread and butter. The colleagues you have become family and not just workmates. You also live close to your workplace. Therefore, it takes a short time to get to work.
Even your social life is formed around your schedule. When you’re planning your year, you plan your leave days according to the work routine that you’re used to.
Financially, a job that guarantees you a monthly income, helps you plan your finances, take loans, pay for health insurance, and live in a house that you can afford. That also makes it very easy for you to plan for your financial goals and retirement.
Who in their right mind would want to change that? That’s not a bad deal.
However, according to experts, if you’ve been at the same workplace for more than five years and nothing much has changed, chances are you’ve overstayed in your job. Therefore, you need to look into moving to another place. Disturb your comfort zone so you can grow and make a good career progression.
How do you know you’ve overstayed in your job?
When there is no growth
Take a minute and reflect on your first year at that company. What was it like? What was your role, and what responsibilities were you handling at the time? How are things now? Are they the same? Are you doing the same thing as you did back then, and do you feel like you need a new challenge?
Let’s talk money. How much were you earning then, and how has it changed? If your salary then compared to now has not really changed much, then you’re not growing and you need to start thinking about leaving.
How about skill-wise? Since you started working there till now, how have your skills and knowledge improved? Has your employer exposed you to new things or even facilitated your education to study and acquire vital knowledge in your industry?
If not, I hate to break it to you but you’re stuck and stagnant. The best way to deal with it is to get out of the familiar territory and look for another job. Or better yet, you can take matters into your own hands and study so that you can improve your skills.
Do you enjoy what you do or are you there for the paycheck?
Do you love your job? Why do you really get up in the morning, get dressed and go to work? Is it because you’ve got bills to settle or is it because you really love what you do? If you do it for the money, chances are you won’t last long. You’ll eventually start feeling lethargic and completely uninspired to work. Eventually, either of two things will happen. One is you underperforming at work or secondly, you’ll be just a shell of a person at that job.
Your network is still the same
You’ve also probably overstayed in your job if your network is still the same. If the people you know now professionally are still the same, that’s a surefire sign that you need to change things up. If you want to know this for sure, go to your contacts on your phone and look at your contacts list. How has it evolved for the better, or is it still the same?
What are the things you can do if you feel like you’ve overstayed in your job?
Reflect and think about what you want
First, you must define the course you want your career to take. What’s your vision for your career? Where do you want to be in the next ten years? Having a clear goal in mind will guide you on the next steps to take. The vision and plan might demand that you do different things. For example, you might need to go back to school or you might need career coaching. Other times it might mean that you start a consultancy job on the side.
Having a vision will give you a clear direction on the steps that you need to take.
Brush up your CV
Re-write your CV to showcase your skills. Do your research and look at the best CVs. At Fuzu, we have a CV builder which helps you create an attractive CV that will appeal to recruiters.
Career Coaching
Get a career coach to help you evaluate your current work status, how it’s harming you, and what you need to change so that you can move up. They’ll also assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and show you what you need to change or work on to receive your next opportunity.
Apply for jobs
Look for jobs that you’re qualified for and apply. Don’t get tired. Send your cover letter and CV. Ask your friends and family to alert you when they see jobs that you can apply for. Log onto the Fuzu and see which companies are hiring. Put your best foot forward and grab those opportunities.
Expand your networks
Actively expand your network by going to networking events. Alternatively, when you go for work assignments, ensure that you save the contacts of the people you work or collaborate with. Ensure that you strike a professional friendship. Let them know that you’re open to looking for work in other places.
When an opportunity comes up, they’ll recommend you.
Conclusion: Don’t overstay in your job
It’s human to love and embrace the comfort zone. But the ultimate price you pay is not worth it. Take the risk and wade into the unknown waters of moving from that work you’re so used to that it has become your identity. Sometimes you may fail, while other times, you’ll succeed. The reward in all that is growth, experience, lessons for your life and career and most importantly, fulfilment. It will help you live a life of no regrets.
Read also: How to establish a solid career and smart finances — even now.
