Feeling Stuck in Your Career? Here’s What You Can Do

If you’re stuck in your job, you’re not the only one. It’s a common feeling — especially as the world of work evolves faster than most of us can keep up. But here’s the thing: You’re not stuck forever. With the right approach, you can get moving again — and new LinkedIn data shows what’s holding people back. The data can also help show us how to overcome those challenges.

Change Is the Biggest Challenge

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of professionals feel overwhelmed by the pace of change in today’s workplace, according to the LinkedIn data. It’s not just about keeping up with new tech; it’s about everything. The rise of flexible work, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into day-to-day tasks and navigating multi-generational teams are all part of the mix.

In fact, almost half (49%) of workers worry they’ll be left behind if they don’t adapt quickly enough. The pressure is real. It’s no wonder people are seeking more support from their employers. Two-thirds of workers want more guidance, yet only a third feel like they can count on their managers. That lack of support leaves many professionals feeling stuck.

How Do You Get Unstuck?

Whether you’re actively looking to make a move or just thinking about it, there are practical steps you can take now to set yourself up for job search success in the future.

First, you need to know where you want to head in your career. Knowing that direction will help you build a strategic job search when you need it. You can do this by exploring the trends of your chosen industry and learning about the day-to-day lives of people at other companies.

The most powerful tool in that exploration phase is informational interviews, which can unlock limitless knowledge. You can learn all about changes throughout the industry, what other companies are working on or towards, and suggestions from people who have a different vantage point. This knowledge can go a long way toward choosing when you start your job search, where you look, and more.

Second, you need to be ready to take action on what you learn to stay ahead of the curve. Technology is evolving so fast that we all need to realize that we will never be able to stop learning in our professions — especially in the age of AI. Our latest data show many people understand this fact, with there being a 117% spike in non-tech professionals learning about AI through LinkedIn Learning courses. Additionally, LinkedIn found that 56% of workers said that experience alone isn’t enough to keep climbing the career ladder.

If you haven't experimented with AI yet, you're in luck. We're still in the first moments of this new age, meaning simple experimentation with tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Copilot, or Google's Gemini can get you up to speed. You can ask the tools to proofread your work (or resume), summarize meeting notes, or other simple tasks. Being proactive when it comes to learning about new technology and trends will help a lot in a job search.

You may be wondering how these simple actions — networking and learning about new technology — can help you become unstuck. In my mind, it's like Newton's first law of motion: An object at rest remains at rest, an object in motion remains in motion… You need to take the first step, but the action of networking and learning will put you into motion. Pretty soon, you'll be unstuck and moving forward.

(For full disclosure, I like to remind everyone that Microsoft is LinkedIn's parent company whenever I mention them — even in passing.)

On the latest episode of Get Hired with Andrew Seaman , I sat down with Bunnell Idea Group's Mo Bunnell , who is the author of Give to Grow: Invest in Relationships to Build Your Business and Your Career . In our conversation, Mo offers practical advice on building meaningful connections that benefit everyone involved. He also debunks the common belief that “It’s not what you know, but who you know,” by emphasizing that success comes from mastering both.

A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here . You can listen to the episode above or wherever you like to listen by clicking here .

We're two episodes into our "Without Limits" series on Get Hired with Andrew Seaman for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The series aims to educate people about the challenges people with disabilities face in the workforce while also celebrating their contributions to the world of work. This episode features my conversation with Luticha Andre Doucette , who is a disability justice advocate. We talked about the importance of people with disabilities knowing their rights during a job search. Also, the two of us discussed what employers should know about hiring people with disabilities.?

A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here . You can listen to the episode above or wherever you like to listen by clicking here .

Once again, I'll be co-hosting LinkedIn's Talent Connect Show, which is the virtual counterpart to our yearly summit for talent and HR leaders to solve the biggest challenges facing the world of work. You're invited to watch along in the Americas on October 29 & 30 and in Asia on November 6 & 7. Be sure to?register and tune in for speeches from LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, Jennifer Hudson, Mel Robbins, and many others!