Career Plateau

What is Career Plateau?

Career plateau is a term used to describe an individual who has reached a point in their professional life where they cannot progress and have earned a stagnant position. They feel stuck, bored, and frustrated because they feel unable to move forward.

What are the Reasons Behind Career Plateaus?

There is no particular reason behind career plateaus as they are multiple factors. But generally, there are two main kinds of reasons, 

• Internal: When the factors behind hitting the plateau are the person.
• External: When the factors behind hitting the plateau are beyond their control and external.

What are the Effects of Hitting a Career Plateau?

• Less focus on work and work-related activities.
• Feelings of failure and disappointment.
• Fatigue
• Lower self-esteem.
• Identity crisis.
• Depression.
• Feeling stuck and unable to get out of it.

How Do You Handle Employees Suffering from Career Plateau?

The HR team can handle affected employees by introducing more challenges and rewards. Mental stimulation is vital here, as with proper levels of engagement and challenges. Employees can easily climb out of that metaphorical ceiling they have hit and regain their love and sincerity towards their work.

Understanding what lies at the heart of a professional plateau is essential to successfully navigating and overcoming the plateau. If there are no more opportunities for you to advance inside the company or if you have outgrown your position, looking for a new job in a bigger market or with a different company is an excellent alternative. On the other side, finding work that uses your skill set and seems to be a better match for you as an individual could be challenging. As you come to terms with and manage a standstill in your work life, resist the need to be disheartened or to blame yourself.