2 Things You Can Do if Youve Outgrown Your Job - The Muse

2 Things You Can Do if Youve Outgrown Your Job - The Muse2 Things You Can Do if Youve Outgrown Your JobYou used to love your job, but now youre bored. You have to drag yourself to the office each day, and while youre there, youre not even working, just refreshing Facebook every five minutes. If youre being honest, youve outgrown your role, but youre not ready to throw in the towel and move on just yet.Job searches take a lot of time and effort, and- especially if you once loved your position or have close relationships with your team- you may be torn as far as whether you should try to make it work or look elsewhere.Well, the answer depends on whats causing your boredom, because once you know where it stems from, youll also be able to clearly see what your next move is. Heres what I meanStay if Youre CoastingThe truth is, you could do your work in half the time- and with your eyes closed.If the assignments that used to challenge you now seem like rote errands, then youre sleep-workin g. Sure, you can do your job really well (maybe because youve been in it long enough to develop superb expertise) but you dread the idea of doing the same things over and over. Remember how you struggled to learn new skills when you started? Thats because work isnt meant to be too easy. Its supposed to stretch your abilities.The good news? You can still be happy at your job. What needs to change is the kinds of projects youre working on- and thats something you can talk to your boss (and co-workers) about.Next StepSet up a meeting with your manager to explore how you can take on challenging new projects. Say, Id love to pursue opportunities for growth within my role. Im only a beginner at skill and becoming more proficient would help me with aspect of your job. So, I like to work on projects that require me to practice it, such as If you come with concrete ideas, youre making it easier for your supervisor to say yes.Another way to find out career-boosting opportunities in your day i s to offer to help your co-workers. Tell them how much flexibility you have in your schedule and your interest in joining new teams. Go if Youre Out of SyncOnce upon a time, you were bubbling with ideas. You were able to excite people around you and ultimately get results.Now- not so much. Youre not excited about going to the office because your ideas are constantly shut down, your suggestions are never taken, and youre frequently asked to redo things. Its just not clicking- but that doesnt mean your only option is to get comfortable coping with feeling frustrated each day.Priorities mayve shifted for your manager, team, department, organization, or industry, and you may no longer be the right fit (or your role may no longer be right for the company). If you and your team are on different pages, it can be best for everyone involved for you to seek out an opportunity thats more suitable for you in this stage.Next StepWhile everyone has some small things they may not like about their job, successful people know better than staying in a role or at a company thats no longer good for them. When you accepted your current job, you felt you were making a smart decision. In that moment, you clearly saw how the position could elevate your career. Now you see something else a new path.Your best bet once youve come to this realization is to start actively looking for a new opportunity. To make sure you dont end up in the same situation again, dont apply only to roles youre qualified for. Consider those thatll take you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to master new things.No one wants to be bored at work every day- and no one should have to be. Do what you can to make your job grow with you, but if that isnt possible, dont feel bad about looking for a job that excites you.