If you are not content with your current salary and position within the organization, then you need to examine your rank within four major areas in order to elevate your standing. The bottom line is: Do you have what it takes to boost your career? The areas of concern are: Age, Experience, Job Choice and Education.
Most of the literature that you read about career planning will emphasize that legally, age should not be an inhibiting factor when seeking a position. Please note that the meat behind this statement is legally. One would have to go through the grueling task of proving in the courts that they were not selected for a promotion because they were a certain age. Your case will probably be convoluted by the fact that you employer will most likely promote someone within the same age category as yourself. So, the question is, if age is not the issue, what prevented me from advancing? I submit to you, age is not the governing factor in such a selection process, however, it is age coupled with a low ranking within one of the other critical areas that cause the problem. For instance, if company X had to choose between a 46 year old employee with little or no managerial experience and no master's degree or a 48 year old employee with eight years of managerial experience and no masters degree to promote, chances are the latter of the two would get the position. Employee number one would obviously have a better chance at the position if they were completing there dissertation and had three to four years of managerial experience. I think you get the picture, it's normally not one area of deficiency that causes the problem, its when you accumulate a number of deficiencies.
The experience issue is definitely one of those areas where the question is asked: Which came first the chicken or the egg. If someone does not give you the opportunity to gain experience how will you ever get it. Many times a decision is made to place a non-experienced person in a position of authority when they have effectively shown that they can properly manage themselves in chaotic situations. The premise being if you fall apart when the road gets tuff how will you ever manage others in similar cases. The point is, you need to gain the experience necessary for the higher position you seek. Some would say; get what you need by any means necessary.
Over the last 15 to 20 years, the career experts have screamed Fire and Brimstone at mention of a career that does not submerge its very existence into high technology. We have read article after article that pushed down our throats the cliché that "Information is Power." The high dollar career predictors have illustrated to us through their crystal ball that service oriented careers are on the rise. But, no where have we been forced to digest an appetite of art careers as a main course. These areas can make for a decent living, for instance, an accomplished artist, 20 years after his earthly departure could rake in millions from a single painting. Musical greats can explode any bankbook by raking in hundred's of thousands of dollars for one concert. But, what percentage of college grads emerging upon the workforce will excel to such levels. People... stick with me on this one... the numbers are not that great. So, until you produce that Mona Lisa counterpart or can pack the Gardens try your hand at keeping up with technology. You never know what experience in Microsoft Publisher can bring.
Long gone are the days where a bachelors degree was the key to golden opportunities. Today the geese that laid the golden bachelor degree eggs are emerging upon the fertility specialist to assist them with the production of golden advanced degree eggs. Jack of course, is still attempting to scale the bean stalk to capture those of us who have not wet our brow to obtain any eggs of our own. Is it really as simple as a child's nursery rhyme? I would say not, bachelors degrees were tough enough to obtain while working part time, being single and not dealing with children. One must not be a rocket scientist to figure out that when you add a full time job, family and every now and then entertainment, the effort increases. But, bachelors degrees come a dime a dozen. The ability to upwardly scale the edge of the beanstalk without falling, or being captured by Jack is dependent on an advanced degree. What is the beanstalk? My fellow employee it is the ever-loving career ladder.
So how do you rate yourself? If you can place a black mark in two or more of these areas your work is definitely cut out for you. Choices have to be made. Commitment is the key. Commitment to your success.
- J.M. Grayson