careeradvice

Self-approval first

C oasting through each day with no motivation, excitement, or incentive to work any harder? Get out! Find a job where you are engaged, or stressed, or challenged — anything but zoned out. If you need motivation, try to imagine the resume blurb for your current underwhelming job. “Sat at desk and tried not to nod off in front of boss. Filed company paperwork. Thought fondly of death.” Yeah, it’s time to move on.

Not learning?

Y our mind — and your career — thrive when you are constantly encountering new information, developing new skills, or following your natural curiosity into continuous learning. If your job offers you no pathway to move forward and continue growing, why are you there? The invigorating stress of a job search might even spill over into your current job — try it and see.

Network is your best friend

Y our professional network doesn’t have to be this scary thing that’s all work all the time. You can make it a truly social thing, you can even make friends. Build a group of like-minded contacts whose interests match yours and whose intellectual pursuits and career moves inspire you constantly to do and be better. Keep in touch with them. Do them favors and then ask for a few for yourself. Congratulate old office mates on new jobs. In short — be a good friend to your network contacts and soon they will start to feel like actual friends.