As the year ends, many people, stuck in their jobs, start questioning their careers, according to You might even be hitting goals and performing well, yet still feel restless, he says, unsure if you’re simply coasting and whether you should start thinking about a new job in the new year. Instead of starting over in a new job, sometimes you just need a new strategy to reset your career without handing in your notice.
Reset Your Career Instead Of Jumping Ship
Are you among the 75% of the American workforce job hugging, waiting for the chance to “office frog” to another position? Ever feel like your career is just coasting? You’re doing well, hitting targets and showing up, but you feel restless. You want more purpose, progression or simply to spark that excitement again.
You’re not alone. An ADP survey shows that workers are unsatisfied in their current jobs, as 26% said they feel a lack of career progress being the primary reason. Among those aged 25-34, 31% cite career progression was their main concern, the age where many people feel like they need to “have it all worked out.”
You spend more time at your job—as much as one third of your days according to some sources—than just about any other place on earth. And if you’re miserable, it can take a tremendous toll on your entire life. Of course, all jobs have drawbacks. But if you’re an unhappy worker most of the time, you’re an un-productive worker much of the time.
That doesn’t benefit either you or the company. So what do you do? First, experts caution you to take a breath and step back before jumping ship too quickly to make sure you’ve thought everything through. You can’t fire your boss. You can’t take over the company and restructure it, but you can take a number of other actions.
5 Tips to Reset Your Career Without Starting Over
If you’re stuck in your job, Connar Luckford the student success lead at targetjobs declares that you don’t always need to start from the beginning to feel happy again. Sometimes, it’s not a new job you need, it’s a new strategy. He shared with me five expert approaches to hit reset on your career without handing in your notice.
1. Set ‘mini missions’ to find your spark again.
“If you’re in the first couple of years at work or feeling stuck in the same role for too long, it’s easy to lose sight of what you actually want, especially when every day feels the same,” Luckford says. “You may start to wonder whether you’ve hit a career wall or if the excitement of the role has worn off.”
He suggests that the fix is to create your own progress by setting “mini missions.”– short, self-motivated goals that stretch you just enough. “Shadow a senior, learn a new skill, lead a project or build more knowledge from online courses, anything that helps remind you that you’re growing,” he recommends.
Luckford advises that you think of them as giving yourself micro-promotions. Examples are running a small meeting, introducing a new tool your team doesn’t use yet or fixing a broken method. “Early-career employees will benefit from this the most; it’s how they will build courage without waiting for approval or a promotion.”
Try this: “Write down a professional ‘mini mission’ for next month. Keep it small but thoughtful and celebrate it when you achieve it.”
2. Track your achievements (You’ve done more than you think).
“It’s simple to assume you’re at a standstill when you’re not getting praised or promoted,” Luckford acknowledges, but adds that even the smallest wins, such as calming a tricky client, helping a new employee or tidying up a messy spreadsheet–all show progress.
“We all play down progress that isn’t public,” he explains. “Keep note of your achievements, as this will boost confidence and help you see where you’re starting to take on valuable skills.”
Luckford points out that this type of reflection is key early in your career, when feedback is limited and imposter syndrome is at its peak. He asserts that seeing your progression in writing is proof you’re moving forward, even if no one is telling you.
Try this: “On your phone or a Google Doc, keep a note of “wins.” Add one achievement every Friday, big or small, and you will be shocked at how motivating it is to see your silent wins build up.”
3. Reflect before you react.
“If you feel like you’re in a rut at work, you may have thought about making a dramatic exit and quitting,” Luckford notes. “But usually, frustration isn’t a sign you need a new job. It’s a sign you need to take a minute and look at what’s actually going wrong.” He says you can do this by asking three quick questions: What exactly is exhausting me? What still excites me? What can I realistically change right now?”
He says people often realize they don’t hate their job, they’re just bored, under-challenged or burned out. “Taking a minute to think is important early in your career, when your ‘dream job’ can sometimes turn out to be more hard work than glamorous. Thinking before you act helps you fix what’s not working, instead of being carried away with it.”
Try this: “When you feel stuck, grab a notebook and write out how you’re feeling before reacting. It’s proven that issues become calmer and clearer when they’re written down on paper.”
4. Reconnect with your network without an agenda.
“Networking isn’t just for job hunting; it’s a vital for career growth,” according to Luckford. “Having conversations with people outside your everyday bubble can reawaken motivation and remind you that everyone’s figuring it out as they go.” He suggests that you talk to someone you look up to and ask how they got unstuck. It will remind you that no one’s path is perfect, especially in your 20s or 30s.
Try this: “Message an old contact this week, not asking for a job. Simply to reconnect, as sometimes the best opportunities start with a genuine chat.”
5. Redefine what ‘progression’ actually means.
“Climbing the career ladder isn’t the only way forward. Maybe you want more balance, flexibility and creativity, not another title change,” Luckford proposes. “We’ve been told that success is built from promotions. But progression can also mean building more confidence, adding to your skills or shaping your role to fit your life better.”
This mindset change, he explains, is freeing if you still feel like you need a professional identity, and it takes the pressure off chasing a straight path and reminds you that growth can look different for everyone.
Try this: “Write three things that would make your work life feel better this year, not forever. This helps rewire your own version of progression. It might surprise you how much of that you can achieve right where you are.”
Combined, these five actions alone can reset your career and give you a new lease on life.
