Career Stagnation vs Career Plateau

Career stagnation and the career plateau do not always result from personal failure. They often arise from limited opportunities, organizational structure, or shifting life priorities.

What Is Career Stagnation?

In any career journey, not everyone can continuously climb up the corporate ladder. The pyramid-shaped structure of most organizations means that higher positions become fewer. This often leads to career stagnation, especially for employees who have stayed in the same role for a long time. Kaswan (2014) explains that career stagnation occurs when someone is no longer able to move upward in the organization, even when their performance is bold.

Career Stagnation vs Career Plateau

Career stagnation and the career plateau are often seen as the same, but they have distinct meaning while remaining closely related. Career stagnation refers to a psychological state where someone feels bored, unmotivated, or unable to find challenges in their work. The career plateau, on the other hand, is an objective career condition where the chance for promotion or upward mobility becomes very limited due to limited organizational structure or the scarcity of higher-level roles.

Although different, a career plateau can often trigger career stagnation, as employees feel “stuck” in their journey. Still, career stagnation may appear even when promotion opportunities exist, for example when tasks become too repetitive or lack variety.

Career Plateau: When Growth Slows Down

Werner and DeSimone (2006) define the career plateau as the stage in a career where the probability of further hierarchical promotion is very low. For employees who crave growth, this phenomenon can feel discouraging. Feelings of frustration, stress, and even failure are common when a career seems stagnant.

However, the career plateau is not always negative. Some employees may feel satisfied with their current roles and prefer not to take on additional responsibilities. In this case, the plateau can serve as a period of reflection, transition, or re-evaluation of long-term career goals.

The Negative Impact of the Career Plateau

The career plateau can become dysfunctional when employees feel trapped in roles that limit the growth. This sense of stagnation can lower motivation, increase absenteeism, and reduce overall performance. Burke (2015) also found that unmanaged career plateaus can trigger burnout and reduce job satisfaction.

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How to Overcome Career Stagnation

Dealing with career stagnation and the career plateau requires awareness and strategy. Some practical steps include:

• Seek professional development opportunities through training, courses, or certifications.

• Build professional networks to open up new possibilities.

• Reflect on career goals and evaluate long-term direction.

• Look for task variety or new projects to create fresh challenges.

With the right approach, career stagnation can be turned into momentum for growth. The career plateau is not the end of the journey, but rather a point to explore new directions and opportunities.

References :

• Kaswan. (2014). Career Development (Pengembangan Karir Untuk Mencapai Kesuksesan dan Kepuasan).

• Werner, J.M., & DeSimone, R.L. (2006). Human Resource Development.

• Greenhaus, J.H., Callanan, G.A., & Godshalk, V.M. (2010). Career Management.

• Burke, R. (2015). Career Plateau and Work Outcomes.

• Tremblay, M., & Roger, A. (2004). Career Plateau and Employee Reactions.