Things don’t always go as planned. Perhaps you were anticipating a promotion, an opportunity to take on more responsibility, or you unexpectedly lost your job. These types of career setbacks or stagnation can leave you feeling stuck. It can certainly be challenging for you on multiple levels.
Over the years, our legal recruiters in Toronto have worked with thousands of people who’ve felt this way. We always tell them that even though they may not like their current situation, moving forward is always the best course of action. Below, we’ll provide some advice for how to work through a career setback or the feeling of stagnation.
In this blog:
- What Does Career Stagnation Look Like?
- What Are the Types of Career Setbacks?
- Career Setbacks Are Challenging
- Research Finds That Setbacks Can Boost Your Career
- What Is The Best Advice For Managing A Career Setback or Stagnation
What Does Career Stagnation Look Like?
Career stagnation can happen to anyone. It happens when an individual’s professional growth and advancement plateau. You become stagnant instead of moving forward by adding new skills, taking on greater responsibilities, earning promotions or raises. You feel stuck in the same role or at the same level of challenge.
Stagnation can happen for reasons within and beyond your control. For example, if you don’t take the initiative to upskill or keep up with your industry trends. Or, you could face stagnation because your company has a flat hierarchy, puts on a hiring freeze or is cutting budget.
What Are the Types of Career Setbacks?
Career setbacks are unexpected or difficult events that negatively impact your professional progress. Unlike career stagnation, setbacks tend to be more sudden and noticeable. They can happen to anyone, regardless of experience level or industry.
The most common types of career setbacks include:
- Job loss
- Demotions
- Temporary layoffs
- Poor performance reviews
- Getting passed over for a promotion
- Personal and health issues require you to take extended time off
Career Setbacks Are Challenging
There is no question that a career setback can be challenging to handle, especially if you didn’t see it coming. Having an emotional reaction is completely normal. In addition to disappointment, you may feel angry, resentful, and a variety of other mixed emotions. It’s common for people to second-guess themselves and wonder if they are taking the right career path.
Give yourself some time to process your thoughts and emotions. Our recruiters often recommend setting a certain period for you to be upset. Maybe it’s a few days or a week. Then it’s time to start looking forward. A great way to turn the page and start looking forward is to do something you enjoy. Perhaps it’s exercise, spending time with family and friends or another activity. This will help you rebalance your energy and clear your mind.
Research Finds That Setbacks Can Boost Your Career
It may sound counterintuitive, but having a career setback may be just what you need to thrive in the future. Research from Harvard Business Review suggests that even though there may be some short-term pain, a career setback can help you long term.
“We found that people who had experienced setbacks, despite initially feeling they had fallen off track, had had a positive shift in perspective. The jolt of a setback had pushed them to reconsider and reframe their careers in ways that were more authentic to their inner selves — and that helped them be more successful. In contrast, individuals without career setbacks had predominantly pursued conventional paths driven by “safe” choices; wider career opportunities seemed unattractive — or invisible — to them,” says research authors Gloria Kutscher and Wolfgang Mayrhofer.
What Is The Best Advice For Managing A Career Setback or Stagnation?
If you’ve come to a point in your career where you’ve had a setback or feel stagnant, developing a plan to move forward is an effective approach. We spoke with our recruitment team to get their best advice on how to manage a setback. Here is what they had to say:
1. Don’t allow limiting beliefs to hold you back
Limiting beliefs are those nagging thoughts that stop you from reaching your full potential in your career. They’re the assumptions or negative ideas you hold about yourself or the world that act like invisible roadblocks, keeping you from moving forward or aiming higher.
These beliefs often stem from past experiences, your upbringing, social environment, or even the career path you’ve chosen. Over time, they can quietly shape your decisions and actions, holding you back from opportunities for growth and success. Don’t allow them to frame how you think about your career.
Read more: 6 Common Limiting Beliefs That Are Holding You Back In Your Career
2. Re-assess the current state of things
Things are changing at breakneck speed these days. If you’ve been in the same role for some time, a lot could have changed since you were last on the job market. Our recruiters recommended that you take some time to reassess and get acclimated to the current state of your industry and job. Look at the current economy, job market, top employers, and skills needed. This information can give you great insights into what you need to do to position yourself for career success going forward.
3. Are your career goals in alignment with your interests or aspirations?
A setback is the perfect opportunity to stop and think. Are you in the career you want to be in? Does your current status reflect your interests? Are there other things you’ve wanted to pursue but haven’t? Has your definition of success changed? Often, people get caught up in the day-to-day that they lose sight of their overarching career goals.
4. Be open to different types of opportunities
Perhaps a more traditional career path is not for you. Think outside the box and consider all types of opportunities before making a decision. Perhaps it’s time to work in another industry, consider contract or freelance work. Maybe now is the time to take some temporary work to try out something new.
5. Fill the skill gap
Whether you’ve become stagnant or had a setback, identifying new skills to acquire can help you significantly. Take stock of important skills you’re missing, skills that can help you grow your career, and skills that are in demand by employers. When you fill the skill gap, you’ll open the door to more opportunities.
A Find Word For Managing A Career Setback or Stagnation
Career setbacks and periods of stagnation can feel overwhelming. However, they don’t define your entire professional journey. Whether you’ve faced an unexpected challenge or simply feel stuck, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Thousands of professionals have been in your shoes and found ways to move forward, often emerging stronger, more focused, and more aligned with their true goals. With the right mindset, a willingness to reassess and grow, and support, you can turn these difficult moments into powerful turning points.
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