You are a talented professional with serious career aspirations. Unfortunately your current job is not showing signs of further progression towards your goals. While some people are content to stay in a dead-end job forever, as long as it pays the bills, you want more.

RealStreet — an employment firm that can connect you with architecture, engineering and construction jobs throughout the nation — understands the importance of fulfilling work. You deserve better than a job that is going nowhere fast. Once you recognize the signs, take control of the situation.

5 Key Indicators of a Dead-End Job

1. Your Job Has Not Evolved

Forward-thinking companies are always seeking new ways to advance the business. Unfortunately, not all employers view career development the same way. If you have held the same job for years, but the role and responsibilities have not changed much since day one, it probably never will – at least without your influence.

2. There Is No Upward Mobility

At some companies, mapping your ascent up the ladder is easy. Unfortunately, upward mobility is not possible for all positions with every organization. Maybe you already hold the top spot for your profession or the person in the job you want is settled in for the long haul. Either way, advancement is far more challenging when you have nowhere to go.

3. Your Talents Are Not Appreciated

Any company would be lucky to have you on staff. If your ideas are essentially ignored, you need to move on. Whether you have a bad manager or the company culture is a poor fit, you won’t thrive until you work for an organization that values you.

4. Being at Work Bores You

Your job used to challenge you, but that excitement is long gone. These days, you spend most of the day staring at the clock, waiting impatiently until you can head home. Clearly, the work is no longer stimulating your mind or enhancing your life.

5. Your Boss Shows No Interest in Your Goals

More than just the person who puts work on your desk, your manager should want to help you achieve your career objectives. If your boss has never asked what your goals for the future are and shows no sign of caring, this doesn’t bode well for career growth.

What to do When You Feel Stuck

It can be frustrating when it is not possible to be promoted. If you are not yet ready to look for opportunities elsewhere, there are a couple of ways you can continue growing professionally. However, you will need to take the initiative. For example:

• Consider opening up to your supervisor about your career goals, letting them know you would like to grow with the company and would like the opportunity to take on new challenges.
• Volunteer to work on a different assignment (to expose yourself to a greater variety of work) or take the lead on a project (gaining valuable leadership experience).
• Try working with colleagues or (ideally) those above you to see if they would be willing to train you as their backup.
• Take advantage of any training, whether through your company, industry organizations or online opportunities.
• Consider a lateral move that either has upward mobility or provides the experience needed to make a career transition down the road.

During this time, make sure to polish your resume, update your LinkedIn profile (while cleaning up your overall social presence) and brush up on your job search skills. If true opportunities for career advancement do not become available in a reasonable amount of time, you will want to be prepared to consider other options. After all, you are a hard-working, talented professional. Don’t allow your career to become stagnant.

Break Free From Your Dead-End Job

Stop wasting your talents on a job with no upward mobility, and let RealStreet guide your search for a better fit. Whether you are in the market for an architecture, engineering or construction position, our expert recruiters have the connections needed to help you land a competitive opportunity with an industry-leading employer. Contact us today learn more!