The job market is tough. That’s not a secret in today’s society.
Finding a job is hard, but leveling up in your career in this economy is even harder.
I was chatting with a friend the other day, and they mentioned that the last time they received a raise was 3 years ago and it was a 1.2 percent cost of living increase.
That’s nuts when you think about it, because the cost of everything has risen so drastically that a 1.2 percent increase doesn’t even scratch the surface of balancing expenses.
But they won’t leave their job.
Most people are holding onto their roles, no matter how insufferable they become, because of the uncertainty in the market. They’re too afraid to apply other places because they don’t want to lose the small sense of security in their full time-roles, no matter how miserable they are.
Well, I recommend the opposite.
Staying at a company too long with no growth and no opportunities will stifle your career in the long run.
You don’t develop new skills, you won’t take on more challenges, and you won’t get promoted — therefore you become less competitive in the market every day that you stay in your dead-end job.
So, my advice is — leave.
Apply for new roles. Especially, contract roles.
Contract roles are the easiest way to level up your career. I wrote about this in detail a little while ago :)
Contract roles offer low stakes employment in the sense that they’re offered for a limited amount of time but they often pay more, are more flexible with remote work, and they provide high impact, project-based work that will enrich your career experience and resume.
After a few contracts, you could completely shift your career path and increase your salary drastically.
And if you find the right contract, they may just convert you to a full-time employee and you can stay there instead of the dead-end role that you’re hanging onto for dear life!
So take the leap — you never know what could be waiting for you on the other side.