Smashing your career ceiling and building personal value are challenges everyone faces sooner or later. Along the professional-development path we sometimes get stuck, unable to resolve bottlenecks or boost self-confidence.
The good news? These blocks are not set in stone. With the right framework, a clear thinking structure and a bit of practice you can reignite your growth in a surprisingly short time and shatter the barriers holding you back. From a career-coaching perspective, I’ve grouped the issues clients encounter most often and added reflection cues. Each point is critical to any career plan and will help you move forward!
Contents
- 6 typical career blocks: which ones apply to you?
- You don’t know your core value
- You can’t structure your story
- You don’t link your value to market needs
- You lack personal-marketing skills
- You don’t know how to target an internal promotion
- You don’t take action
6 typical career blocks: which ones apply to you?
Career progress often includes detours and dead ends. The key is to spot what is blocking you so you can tackle it efficiently. Most obstacles can be removed with targeted exercises, clear thinking and good practice — sometimes faster than you’d expect. Here are the six I see most often with clients.
1 | You don’t know your core value
Saying “I don’t know my core value” is another way of admitting a lack of meaning: you’re unclear about direction as well as the strengths you should highlight. Maybe you haven’t defined your life mission, your values or personality, or you underestimate the market value of a specific skill.
How to move on: Train your critical thinking, deepen reflection and study your environment. By identifying talents and interests you’ll clarify your place in the world and the contribution you can make.
2 | You can’t structure your story
Your CV profile, a cover letter, even your personal brand in the media all rest on how you present your career to illustrate talent and achievements. If you let society define you passively, you’ll be judged solely on degrees, past job titles or your current department.
How to move on: Work on your narratives and look at your experience with fresh eyes. You’ll gain credibility and confidence.
3 | You don’t link your value to market needs
Jobs exist to solve economic problems, not just to “please you.” Many applicants focus only on their wishes, hoping to land a role perfectly aligned with personal desires.
How to move on: Track trends in your sector and society. You’ll see which profiles are in demand for emerging challenges and can spot genuine opportunities.
4 | You lack personal-marketing skills
Modern success requires polished tools: CV, cover letter and LinkedIn page — your business cards. With the right method they can be upgraded quickly and many coaches, courses and experts are ready to help.
How to move on: Treat your CV and LinkedIn like SEO: weave in keywords reflecting your core skills. Before hitting “send,” compare posting vocabulary with yours; if they don’t match, tweak. If the gap is huge, the role may be out of reach today; consider a staged plan to gain the missing competencies.
🚀 [The complete career-planning guide to become an international talent]
Leverage top MBA insights to craft your global job-hunt strategy and start strong!
• Target your field so you’re not mailing CVs blindly
• Use ready-made templates and master key methods for overseas applications
• Build a five-year roadmap to structure your trajectory and boost visibility
👉 Click here to learn more
5 | You don’t know how to target an internal promotion
Many think career growth means “apply elsewhere” or “change job,” overlooking in-house promotion or internal mobility. Yet to consolidate skills, assume more responsibility or step into management, using your firm’s own system can be simpler and more profitable.
How to move on: A solid career requires deep investment at every stage — especially in an environment you already know. To win a promotion or role change internally, understand your employer’s economic and strategic logic — a point many overlook even after years on staff.
6 | You don’t take action
Gathering information and asking for advice is fine — but without action, nothing shifts.
How to move on: Map out a plan highlighting the gap between your ideal target and today’s reality. You’ll see where to start and can celebrate each step, avoiding guilt or anxiety about unreachable goals. Every day can move you closer and strengthen you for the ambition you aim to fulfil.
🚀 [The complete career-planning guide to become an international talent]
Leverage top MBA insights to craft your global job-hunt strategy and start strong!
• Target your field so you’re not mailing CVs blindly
• Use ready-made templates and master key methods for overseas applications
• Build a five-year roadmap to structure your trajectory and boost visibility
👉 Click here to learn more