How to Save Your Tech Career When it’s Going in the Wrong Direction

You may be familiar with the saying, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” You can plan your career down to the last detail, but things will not always go the way you envision. Perhaps the startup you worked for folded. Maybe you got looked over for a promotion. Or you might have been on 20 interviews and not heard back from anyone. Stumbling blocks like these can make you question why you even got into tech in the first place. But everyone hits a bump in their career journey. The important thing is not to wallow or give up. Instead, pick yourself up and start building a new plan to move forward.

Strategies for Overcoming Tech Career Obstacles

Once you’ve allowed yourself a small pity party, it’s time to develop strategies to get your career moving forward again:

• Research, research, research. Go back and study the requirements for the position you’re aiming for. Compare your current skills, experience and knowledge to those requirements.
• Study the gaps. If there are any areas in which you don’t meet the requirements, write them down. For each gap, develop a plan to overcome it. It might mean taking a class, pursuing a certification or learning a new skill.
• Ask for more responsibility at work. You’ll never be considered for a promotion if you don’t step up and ask for more responsibility from your boss. It is people who take initiative who move up.
• Prove your value. Every single day, put forth your best effort. Become the team member that people rely on to get the job done, no matter the circumstances.
• Share your ideas. If you have a great idea to share with your managers and leaders, don’t be afraid to speak up. Your ideas may not always be implemented, but you will be remembered as someone who is always thinking and who steps up and contributes.
• Put in face time. If you leave the office at lunch and eat alone, if you run out the door at the end of your shift, or if you turn down invitations to interact socially with your peers, you might not be well-liked. Being liked is critical to moving up the ladder. Make sure to spend time networking with your coworkers and bosses every chance you get both on and off the clock.

Get An Expert Recruiter’s Perspective

Sometimes, it can be difficult to kickstart your career if you feel it has stalled. Even if you engage in deep self-reflection and start moving forward, frustration can hinder your progress. If you feel like your career isn’t going in the right direction, it pays to get an outside expert’s advice.

The tech recruiters at Talon can help you get your career moving in the direction you want it to go. We spend time with our talent, learning their strengths, weaknesses, goals and preferences. We can help you understand what you need to do to close potential gaps in your experience and get your career moving again. Contact us today to get your career trajectory back on track.