The intense impact of the Great Resignation has left businesses scratching their heads as how to compete in the new labor market, but it's also caused millions of workers unsatisfied with their career prospects to take a second look at the impact their 9 to 5 grind has on their personal lives and the world at large.

If you're one such person who feels like their career is going nowhere and are looking to make a change, then here are 7 ways you can start.

Ponder What Gives Your Life Purpose

Some people are at a job because they have to be and others are at a job because the money's good, but the best job to land is going to be one that you find personally fulfilling. Ideally, when you go to work, it's going to feel less like a job and more like something you actively enjoy doing or at least something that you can look back on and feel proud of.

Take a deep, long introspective look at what makes you happy, what you truly care about, and what you excel at to properly assess where you want to go in your career. This first step is an absolute must as it's ultimately going to determine what actions you take in the future.

Think Ahead

The world changes quickly, especially in the digital age. Do some research or have a couple chats with industry experts to see where the economy and the world are heading in the next couple decades.

When considering which career path to take, sustainability is key as you don't want to get involved in a particular industry or role that's going to become obsolete 10 years before retirement.

Get to Know More People

For more introverted people, it's unfortunate, but when it comes to making a solid career, who you know is going to make 50% of the difference. A lot of job opportunities are offered or recommended to people based on the relationships they have. When someone in an important position knows you're knowledgeable and reliable, they're likely to provide you with recommendations or insider knowledge; two important things that you would otherwise be lacking.

Work Smart, Not Hard

Hard work plays an absolutely necessary role in career growth, but it's best not to prioritize it over other considerations by default. Willingness to work diligently or work extra hours can be useful, but it's entirely possible you're picking up other people's slack or being largely unproductive by doing so. Instead, try to focus on activities that further your knowledge, impress people worth impressing, and don't push you to the brink of exhaustion.

Don't Obsess Over Promotions

Promotions are often perceived as the standard by which successful careers are identified, but they're not necessarily the best metric. Some promotions are ultimately dead-ends and others aren't jobs you're going to be suited for, which is going to reflect in your performance and probably hamper your career prospects, if anything. Look to take on roles which offer the best balance between advancement and satisfaction.

Get Educated

Education is invaluable in pretty much any sector of the economy and gaining access to it can prove to be a real game-changer. Armed with new knowledge and skills, educational opportunities will allow you to traverse difficult gaps in your career that would otherwise stop your ambitions in their tracks.

Don't Hesitate to Ask for Help

A lot of people are afraid to ask for help because they think it will make them appear incompetent or weak. The truth is though, if you want to advance your career, you're probably going to need some handy advice from someone who's already climbed their way up. If possible, let your boss or someone in a similar position know you're looking to improve your career prospects and they're likely to be more than glad to help you out.

Never Give Up

The road to success is littered with failure, so don't be surprised when something you try doesn't work or it takes longer for your actions and decisions to take effect. Instead of perceiving failures as a waste of time or effort, look at them as learning experiences and understand that your hard work will pay off eventually.