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There is often a sense of euphoria when you secure your dream job or your first job. But after a few years, you realize that your career has not taken off as you expected. It may cause you to feel stuck in your job, often leading to less productivity and efficiency. However, it is up to you to get out of that dilemma and get your career back on track. Here are some tips to help you with that.

Career planning

You will need a plan If you are going to progress in your career. Without plans, you are unable to make concrete decisions that will positively impact your career. So, it would be best if you began by formulating a plan that will address your career from where you find yourself now to where you want to be in the next few years. Remember to include SMART goals that will guarantee your desired results. If you are trainable in other fields, you should make provisions to serve as backup career plans if you decide to pivot into another area.

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Challenge yourself

Often career stagnates due to a lack of opportunity, and when that happens, many people slump into the regular routines, failing to motivate themselves. If you do not challenge yourself, it is unlikely that you will grow. It would help if you were ready to challenge yourself by taking on extra responsibility or initiating something worthwhile to benefit the organization. For example, after your first degree in the field, you can go back to school to gain a Masters in public health administration to upgrade your knowledge and skills. It will put you in a better position to secure promotions and better job offers. Even though your attempt to overcome hurdles in your career may not always succeed, the more you try, the higher your chances of success. You should also be open to learning as it is an absolute path to growth. 

Strive for personal development

To progress in your career, you must develop personally as your personality reflects in your ability to perform the essential functions of your role to some extent. For example, it is always best to approach each task with a positive attitude. Always be the first person to scrutinize your work and find ways to solve issues before someone else points them out to you. You will be viewed as a solutions provider with consistency rather than someone who always brings problems to the table.

Consult a professional or get a mentor

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Talking over your issues and plans with a professional can often offer new perspectives that you may have previously overlooked or not noticed. When speaking to a professional, be honest about your goals, distractions, and other consternations. With such insight, they will help you fashion a fool-proof plan of approach that enables you to secure the career progression you seek.

Career progression entails many things, such as your drive to attain your goals, opportunity in the working environment, how you relate with people in the workplace, and your qualifications and skills. All these combined will determine your career trajectory, so you should know how best to use them to achieve your career goals.