Getting nowhere with my career

[Remotecontrolatmyside]

I've been slogging my guts out in my career for over 20 years. I'm getting nowhere and getting paid similar to what I was 12-15 years ago. I work really hard, I'm really good at what I do and always go above and beyond. I see people who have about 3-4 years experience in my field moving up the career ladder and I remain stuck. I work far harder than they do and have about 15 years more experience. It all comes down to them having more confidence outwardly than me. I am at the point of not knowing what to do. I am hurt, I am frustrated and I'm broke.

Are you moving companies?

You might need to do that.
Much easier to negotiate a promotion if you have another job confirmed.

No point in being hurt get proactive.

I've moved a few times in the 20+ years and still getting nowhere.

It's down to your confidence and putting yourself forward. It's hard but they're doing it and you're not.

Can you benchmark you against other companies and ask for more in your current role, or apply for the next level up internally?

I do put myself forward and have applied for promotions internally and externally.

Anyone else feel like this?

I can really see how frustrating that must be for you. Have you spoken to your boss about this? Or a person within the company who you admire and trust? Getting some really honest feedback and guidance might help you take a new path or go back on this one with new confidence and gusto.

Yeah I've spoken to my boss. I've asked for specific CPD, development opportunities and areas of responsibility. It rarely comes to fruition.

What feedback have you been getting when you are applying for promotion but not getting it?

Confidence came up and them not being able to see me tackle some of our hardest clients (even though 80%) of my role is fighting fires and having challenging conversations. Other than that the feedback was always that someone else pipped me to the post. When that person is in post they always seem more outwardly confident than me but inevitably don't have my experience, knowledge or work as hard as me so it gets frustrating.