Stuck in a dead end job

danielledookie·May 12, 2022

Hello everyone,

I am having some issues with my career and hoping I can get advice on how to land my next gig. The department I work in at my current gig is in a pivotal state where the team has significantly decreased over the last 6 months and the person "leading" the team is not an appropriate leader and unhelpful manager (who I report to). She has not given me feedback on my performance when I asked for it nor has she been able to share a job description for my role to help me develop goals to work toward.

I have spoken to HR about my complaints with my manager and it has been escalated to the president, both of which who told me that my growth and development is not a priority right now (as the entire company is setting goals and having these conversations with their managers) because they are looking to staff the team rather than help me grow into the next level.

I have been applying to roles and haven't been lucky due to my low experience in UX and hoping that a company will take a chance on me and my potential to grow. Does anyone have advice on how I can finesse my ~8 years of media advertising experience to make me a stronger candidate for a UX role?

Katyy·May 13, 2022

Following :) I would also like to see responses for this. I’m really sorry they are basically ignoring you while they focus on just one goal of increasing staffing.

manaan·May 13, 2022

I'm sorry this is happening to you! Have you done any UX bootcamps or similar classes/programs? it might be helpful to have a certificate to back up your skills.

rachelserwetz·May 17, 2022

Hi @danielledookie, if you're having any challenges with job searching, here are a few job search best practices I'd consider:- Determine what support system you have in place to help you be effective throughout your job search -- Most people feel they have to go it alone and end up guessing where to spend their time versus leveraging a coach, mentor, peer or other tools and resources to be strategic- Most importantly is understanding how/where to spend your time wisely -- its not all about the online apps but networking is a critical component, as well as balancing some time for other key activities in job search (virtual events, thought leadership, research, reflection, etc)- Determine your accountability plan to make sure you're staying on top of your goals & staying organized- Reflect on how things are going on a weekly basis to iterate & improve your approach and thus your outcomes-Be sure not to approach the job in a transactional, check-the-box sort of way -- see networking and interviews as a mirror into the job you would land and an opportunity for two-way assessment of fit- Consider how many roles/industries you're applying to-- this may be a sign that you'd want to take a step back and pursue career exploration to clarify your ideal fit direction; career clarity will help make your search more efficient, targeted, and effective- Don't ignore your self care to ensure your mindset is staying resilient during your searchBTW, I'm Rachel, a Career Coach (iamwoken.com), and I offer a ton of free videos and blogs on my website here - iamwoken.com/resources. I help with: a) seeking clarity on your best fit/ideal career path or next step/direction, b) debating upskiling opportunities, c) improving your personal branding, d) pursuing a strategic job search (for similar roles or for bigger pivots) or e) advancing along your path and navigating your current workplace and more! Let me know if you'd like a free initial career coaching call --> calendly.com/woken/demo