How To Grow Your Career If You Can’t Leave Your Job 

A lot of Nigerian professionals feel stuck. The pay is small, the culture is tough, but the economy is hard and “I can’t just resign” is real. 

Global career experts argue that being unable to leave doesn’t mean you must stop growing; it means you must become more strategic where you are.

Here is how to grow your career if you can’t leave your job

Quietly upgrade your skills:

Use evenings and weekends for online courses in data, product, digital marketing, project management, design or coding. Your employer may not sponsor you, but the skills stay with you.

Reshape your current role:

Volunteer for cross-functional projects, ask to support tech, product or strategy work, or offer to fix obvious problems (reporting, customer feedback, processes). This is “job-crafting” – turning the role you have into the role you want.

Build internal allies:

Don’t only gist with colleagues at your level. Intentionally build relationships with senior colleagues who see your work and can recommend you for stretch assignments or promotions.

Prepare your exit while you stay:

Update your CV and LinkedIn, build a portfolio, and quietly test the job market. When the right opportunity arises, whether locally or remotely, you’ll be ready.