Ask a Mentor: Why is my career stalled?

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Compiled and edited by Julie Tereshchuk

Dear Mentors,

Why is my career stalled? I’m 5 years out of college, and in my second position since graduating. Yet, when I compare myself – and my prospects – with those of my classmates, I’m not having the same success as them. I feel that I’ve stalled, and worry I’m going to start going backwards rather than advancing. Any suggestions?

Mentee

Dear Mentee,

Network through new and old caring connections, whether through LinkedIn or in person. Consider taking a certification course in an area of expertise you don’t have now. When colleagues hear you’re moving and grooving and doing cool stuff outside of work, they tend to notice. Oh, and enough mental anguish over classmates. Believe me, they have problems you don’t want. Keep yourself up and active in the world. Your future self is already thanking you!

Yours, Karen Aroian   

Dear Mentee,

Great question to ask and wise to consider why you feel you’re not where you feel you should be and what steps you can take to grow in your career. However, please note the ‘feels’ because it’s likely that your perception is based on supposition rather than facts. What does stalled mean to you? It could be that you’re not doing what you really want to do and therefore aren’t feeling fulfilled. Or, you may be like me and suffer from Imposter Syndrome. If so, you might want to read this blog https://jblstrategies.com/an-imposters-confession/

Whatever the reason, it would be great if your first step could be to recognize that comparing yourself to others without necessarily having the background information to their ‘success’ is not fair to yourself and can indeed stall your career. The key is to figure out what you really want to do and then build a plan to get there.

The best way to start on this journey is to find a mentor, whether a WCA mentor, which is an awesome benefit of being a WCA member, or someone in your field but not in your company or organization, or simply someone that you trust and respect to give you guidance and ask the right questions. A mentor is someone with whom you can brainstorm where you are and where you’d like to be and how you can get there.

Yours, Jane Baxter Lynn