I’ve spoken to over 1,200 people about their career. Here's the ONE thing the majority are failing to do.

I started the Creative Career Level Up in 2020.  Since then I have had the pleasure to speak with over 1,200 people about their career challenges.

Every time I speak with someone about their career, I’m listening for themes to see if there are consistencies with other people's challenges.

After 4 years of listening, I can confidently say there are many consistent themes.

I hear that people want to work in an environment where they feel valued.

I hear that learning and growth in a role is a priority.

I hear that having a great manager they respect is important.

But there is ONE thing I have found that people consistently fail to do, which is holding back their career.

The ONE thing

The thing people consistently fail to do is move on when they’ve outgrown a role.

Outgrowing a role is incredibly common. And can often happen faster than we think.

There is nothing wrong with outgrowing a role. 

But if you don’t move on when you realise it’s happened, it can really hold back your career and earning potential.

Loss of confidence

Firstly, outgrowing a role can often result in a loss of confidence.

When you are no longer challenged, you can get bored or feel like you’ve got nothing to offer. And this can hit your confidence. 

Once your confidence starts to decline, it can be hard to get it back quickly - even after you have moved on to another role.

I hear from plenty of people who tell me they are still scarred from an experience in their previous role. It takes time to heal.

Loss of earnings

Typically - although not always - moving roles results in an increase in salary. When you outgrow a role it is usually because you have mastered the skills needed for that role. 

And once you have mastered those skills, it is time to leverage those skills to increase your salary.

Every day you spend in a job you have outgrown is money left on the table.

Loss of learning 

The biggest one for me is the loss of the opportunity to learn and grow. Once you have outgrown a role, you have stopped learning. Simple as that. You are no longer taking on new skills or experiences. 

And everyday you spend not learning is moving your career backwards.

If you want to accelerate your career, you have to be in a job that challenges you. Once you have stopped being challenged, move forward to the next role.

Knowing when to move

Knowing when to move can be incredibly hard. And it's not always as simple as moving the second you have outgrown your role.

But I know from the 1,200 people I've spoken with that most wish they’d moved sooner. 

Don’t let that be you! 

If you feel like you’ve outgrown your role, but you don’t know where to start with finding the next one, the Creative Career Level Up might be the right solution for you.