How to get unstuck in your career?

No-BS 5-step process that works like magic...

Lately, I’ve had the same conversation over and over.

Smart, driven professionals—some early in their journey and others a decade in, all telling me they feel stuck.

Not bored. Not burned out.

Just… stuck.

They’re doing everything “right.” Showing up. Delivering. Even getting decent feedback.

But there’s no spark. No progress. No clarity.

The scary part? Many don’t even know why they feel stuck.

And that’s where the spiral begins.

Where do most people get it wrong?

When that “stuck” feeling shows up, most people do one of 3 things:

1. They wait it out.

   “Maybe it’s just a phase.” Spoiler: it usually isn’t.

2. They job-hop.

   New company, same problems—because they never figured out the real issue.

3. They blame themselves.

   Cue the self-doubt, overthinking, and anxiety spiral.

The truth?

You’re not broken. But your strategy might be.

Common career traps that keep you stuck:

Feeling stuck rarely comes from one big thing.

It’s usually death by a thousand cuts:

• You chose the wrong role or culture.

  What sounded good on paper doesn’t feel right in practice.

• You were sold a dream—but got a very different reality.

  Promises made in interviews never came to life.

• You’ve stopped learning.

  You’re on autopilot, not building new skills or confidence.

• Your priorities have shifted.

  What mattered at 25 may not matter now—and that’s okay.

But here’s the good news:

Getting unstuck isn’t about blowing up your entire life or making dramatic moves.

It’s about clarity.

Clarity about what’s not working.

Clarity about what you want instead.

Clarity about what to do next.

And that’s what this guide is for.

The 5-Step process to get unstuck:

Step 1: Name the discomfort

Vague frustration is hard to fix. Get specific.

Ask yourself:

• What exactly feels off?

• When did this feeling start?

• What parts of my work drain me the most?

Naming the discomfort gives it shape. And once you can see it, you can change it.

Step 2: Run a personal audit

Every 6–12 months, I run a simple reflection exercise:

• What am I learning?

• What’s energizing me vs. draining me?

• Do I respect the people I work with?

• Is this path getting me closer to the life I want?

Be honest. You’re not writing a LinkedIn post—you’re figuring out what you need.

Step 3: Clarify your North Star

Most people have vague goals like “grow in my career” or “make more money.”

Get sharper. Instead, ask:

• What does “success” look like for me?

• What do I want more of? (Autonomy? Impact? Balance?)

• What do I want less of? (Meetings? Politics? Commute?)

Now, write it down and keep it simple.

Because without a clear destination, no strategy will work.

Step 4: Explore, don’t escape

Feeling stuck doesn’t always mean you need to quit.

Before jumping ship, try micro-experiments:

• Shadow someone on a different team.

• Take on a new kind of project.

• Talk to people doing roles you’re curious about.

Treat it like product testing: small, low-risk bets to gather intel on what energizes you.

This is how you pivot with intention, not panic.

Step 5: Get an external perspective

You can’t read the label from inside the jar.

Talk to mentors, peers, a coach—anyone who knows your work but isn’t stuck in the same loops.

Ask:

• “What do you think I’m great at?”

• “Where do you see me thriving?”

• “What blind spots should I be aware of?”

You’ll often be surprised by what others see that you can’t.

Final thoughts:

Getting unstuck isn’t about finding the perfect job.

It’s about designing a path that aligns with who you are now and where you want to go.

That clarity takes effort. But it’s worth it.

But think of it this way - what’s the alternative?

Staying stuck? Spinning in place? Waiting for someone else to fix it?

And let’s be real:

No one’s coming to rescue your career.

But you can rescue it yourself—starting today.

Rooting for ya!

-Raghav. B

P.S: If you enjoyed this article, please leave a comment below, and I’d love to hear your feedback.