In my career, I am in responsible position in my organization where I am working from past 11 years. I am in situation where management is doubting my integrity from year or so (Which is not true, but few influential colleagues have created this opinion because of certain conflicts and ego) and I am not getting growth opportunities freely and I feel people are not openly accepting and appreciating my efforts and hard work. This is creating hardships for me, I want break this stigma about me and work freely as earlier, which am trying but feel, it is not working. Will it take time, should I wait for it to change by doing work or should I look for some new opportunities. The dilemma is because I had thought this job is my long time career option and looks like it has become a comfort zone considering my it is in my native, decent salary, children started their schooling now and spouse is also working nearby. It feels hard some times to face people and their reactions, my growth opportunities are getting delayed or in limbo. How to Handle this kind of situation, please advice.

Hi Mayank,I was going through this article Struggling with your career? and it prompted me to write this email.I am Kalpesh Desai, aged 45, working with an MNC as project manager in Mumbai.I feel I have reached a kind of dead-end and am unable to crack that due to office politics, coupled with my inability to say ‘Yes boss’ everywhere and my poor marketing skills as far as my own work is concerned.I am bad at speaking lies and I am process oriented. This just adds to my woes.I feel I end up being used without getting recognised.Changing jobs seems to be easy option but does not guarantee a better situation in future jobs. Kindly share insights on how to come out of this.Warm regards,Kalpesh Desai

I have been working in a company in Finance Department at GM Level for more than 12 years and i have got promotion in 3rd year (DGM to GM) in the company. My boss has been changed thrice. My current boss does not respect my area profile which is compliance, FS preparation, dealing auditors. He only understand business financial reporting. I work with the rule of law/book and sometime I got adamant as this is my nature of job is. My promotion is on hold and he is not ready to give a promotion. Instead, he is suggesting me to move to a different team for promotion if any openings are there. Few are even non-qualified one. How do I mitigate this situation? It is demotivating and frustrating now now working in the organisation since few my colleagues or people under me have moved to the next level and few reached at the level where I am. I need your advice. Thank you. Industry- Telecom Location - Gurgaon

Pradeep, I am a professional with more than 17 years of experience in Operations, team management. Currently I have started working in a global MNC in a global position. Earlier I was working with the same organization for more than 10 years. Then during Covid, I lost my job. Finally, settled down with another company with almost 40% less salary. Though I loved the role and responsibilities there. I was a Senior Team Lead there. I liked the role where I was managing the team, working with the team. But due to some internal politics, I lost my job in that organization too in this year only. Why I am saying politics? Because just before they fired me, I got best performer award and best employee of the last quarter 2024 award. Then I rejoined my old organization with lots of hope. But now I am finiding it difficult to cope up in this global role. The top management expected me to know everything within 3 to 4 months and start delivering. One of the biggest hurdle that I am facing is that earlier when I was in this organization for more than 10 years, I was in another process. This time I got in a role where the process is completely different. Also no proper training is provided. I am not get a fulfiling satisfaction from this role. Also I am not able to get job satisfaction and now I am thinking of quitting and start something of my own. A business venture or a consultancy service. But not sure how to start and also afraid of the flow of income. I have a mother who is suffering from age related problems. Have a little kid of 12 years. My wife is not working. I tried to switch jobs. But it seems that no one is there to take someone who is almost at 45 years of age. I am loosing my hope and confidence day by day. Please help.