Feeling Stuck at Work? How to Audit Your Career and Reclaim Your Confidence

When you daydream at your desk, when was the last time you thought to yourself…

💭 “Is this it?”
💭 “How did I end up here?”
💭 “I can’t do this much longer.”

If these thoughts sound familiar, it’s possible you're feeling undervalued, unsure of your next move, or questioning whether your current career path aligns with your goals.

You’re not alone. One of the most powerful ways to regain control over your career (and confidence!) is by speaking up for what you want and need out of your career. 

But that can be hard to do, right? 

It can be hard to speak up for what you want and need if you… don’t know what you want. 

My therapist will always ask me, “but have you asked for what you need?” 

And my response is always… “we’ll no, because I don’t know what I need”

Just like in personal relationships, when you get clear on your needs in the workplace…
✅ Decision-making becomes easier.
✅ Boundaries feel more natural.
✅ Advocating for yourself stops feeling uncomfortable.

So, let’s talk about it. How can you get clear on your own needs and wants in a professional setting? How can you take upon yourself to advocate for your perfect work day, for the jobs and responsibilities you actually want to be doing, and making the money you only dreamed of making? 

Let’s start with conducting a quick Career Audit: a chance for you – and the clients I work with here at Career Civility – to identify what you want to even communicate in your career.

What a Career Audit Helps You Do

✔ Recognize your worth (and see proof of it).
✔ Identify patterns in what you enjoy—and what drains you.
✔ Get clear on your skills beyond your job title.
✔ Align your career with your values so work feels fulfilling.

Step 1: Track Your Wins with a Professional Yearbook

(Spoiler: I’m working on creating a done-for-you version of this! Stay tuned!)

Too often, we downplay our accomplishments. Over time, we forget about the wins, promotions, and moments when we truly made an impact. A Professional Yearbook is a simple but powerful way to capture your career highlights—so when imposter syndrome sneaks in, you have proof of your value.

Here’s what I’m building inside the Professional Yearbook template:

📌 Old performance reviews – Look for positive feedback, strengths, and recurring themes in what others have recognized about you.
📌 Top accomplishments – What projects, presentations, or ideas made a difference? Think about both major wins and smaller contributions that had a lasting impact.
📌 Promotions, awards, or recognition – Have you received a raise, title change, or a glowing email from a boss or colleague? These all count.
📌 Income growth – This might feel uncomfortable at first, but tracking how your earnings have changed over time provides valuable insight into your market worth.

🔹 What else would be helpful for you inside a Professional Yearbook? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Keeping a record of your career achievements isn’t just about your resume—it’s about YOU. It helps you build confidence, negotiate better, and remind yourself of the value you bring to the table.

Step 2: Identify What You Like (and Don’t Like) About Your Work

Now that you’ve reflected on where you’ve been, it’s time to look at how you feel about your work.

Grab a notebook (or your notes app) and jot down your answers:

✅ What do you enjoy most about your current job? What tasks, projects, or responsibilities light you up?
✅ What did you love about past roles that you don’t have now? Sometimes, the best career insights come from looking backward.
✅ What parts of your job drain you or make you dread Mondays? Be honest here. Identifying what you don’t want is just as important as identifying what you do.
✅ If you could change anything about your job, what would it be? More flexibility? Different leadership? A shift in responsibilities?

Understanding your likes and dislikes can help guide future career decisions—whether that means advocating for changes in your current role or finding a better fit elsewhere.

Step 3: Recognize Your Full Skillset 

You bring more to the table than what’s listed on your resume. It’s time to acknowledge that.

🔹 What skills do you use in your personal life? Managing schedules, problem-solving, financial planning, caregiving—these all translate into workplace skills.
🔹 What technologies do you use daily? From spreadsheets to social media, you probably have more digital skills than you realize.
🔹 What work tasks come naturally to you? Maybe you’re great at organizing, leading meetings, or translating complex ideas into simple terms.

Recognizing your full skill set helps you feel more confident in your abilities—and may even open up new career possibilities you hadn’t considered before.

Step 4: Define What Matters Most to You

Your career should align with your values—the guiding principles that shape what fulfillment and success look like for you.

Take a moment to reflect:

✨ What values feel most important in your work? (Examples: Creativity, Work-Life Balance, Leadership, Collaboration, Growth.)
✨ If you had to pick 2-4 core values that guide your career decisions, what would they be?

When your work aligns with your values, you’re more likely to feel satisfied, engaged, and motivated. Enough said, right?

Step 5: Take action

A Career Audit is just the beginning. If you’re ready to dive deeper, gain clarity on your worth, and build a career that aligns with you, my signature course, Worth at Work, is here to help!

Feeling stuck at work is frustrating, but you’re not powerless. The more you understand your worth, strengths, and values, the more confident you’ll feel in taking control of your career.

Start with this Career Audit—and if you’re ready for more support, Career Civility is here to help.

What’s one career win you’re proud of? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to celebrate with you!

LIVE WORKSHOP + LIVE Q&A:

From Overworked to Empowered: How to Communicate Burnout at Work

Learn how to set boundaries, advocate for yourself, and balance priorities with confidence

Wednesday, April 2nd at 1 PM CT (replay available)

You’ll Walk Away With:

✔ The exact words to set boundaries—without feeling guilty or sounding rude.
✔ How to handle difficult coworkers & bosses while keeping their respect.
✔ A step-by-step script for pushing back without the stress.
✔ How to say “no” with confidence—without hurting your career.
✔ A plan to reclaim your time & energy at work and at home.

PLUS: Live Q&A with me!

Spots are limited! REGISTER NOW

Can’t make it live? Register anyway & get the replay.