Michelle Perchuk is a job search strategist, career coach and founder of MTV Coaching.
Imagine your career as a towering luxury building with beautiful space, views and amenities. You would love to live in such an amazing place and wonder if you can secure an apartment there. But first, you need to figure out on which floor can you afford a place.
The agent lets you know that the building has apartments on four distinct floors that are priced accordingly—the ground floor, the 10th floor, the 20th floor and the penthouse. You dream about getting to the penthouse but know that it is an unrealistic expectation right at the moment.
Planning the ascent in a luxury building provides insights for those professionals who are unsure how to navigate their career paths and need to figure out which floor they are on. Each floor represents a phase in your professional journey: competence, advancement, maintenance and influence.
What floor are you on?
What floor do you live on? What floor do you dream of reaching in this career skyscraper? And how can you level up?
Did you know that in a lifetime, a person spends an average of over 115,000 hours at work? Professionals want to make sure they are planning wisely and are always advancing at the right pace to reach that dream job or the “penthouse” of their career.
Build competence on the ground floor.
The ground floor is where most careers begin. The foundation you lay will determine how sturdy your career path will be.
If you have a broken and rocky foundation and you don’t take the time to develop your skills, you will not be able to progress to the ultimate dream job. On the ground floor, you are learning, gaining skills and finding footing. When you move into a high-rise, you might stick with the ground floor because it’s what you can handle in the beginning. There is no need for a great view or extra rooms. All you want is to be in the right place so you can figure things out. You concentrate on building competence by assessing your surroundings and acquiring experience.
To climb to a higher floor:
• Focus on building your competence in order to understand how to execute tasks.
• Invest in education, training and practical experience.
• Seek mentors who can guide you through the labyrinth of your chosen field.
You’ll be ready to advance to the next floor as you accumulate knowledge and skills.
Advance to the 10th floor.
Once you have mastered the ground floor, you are ready to move up. An apartment on the 10th floor caught your eye, and you want to do what you can to get there. Again, moving up in a luxury building is similar to moving up in your career. In this stage of your career, you’ve gained a solid grasp of your profession. It’s comparable to moving to a higher-floor apartment in your career skyscraper.
You’re no longer a novice and likely have achieved some success, like a promotion or a raise. You want more challenges and more growth so that one day you will reach your dream job destination or that penthouse in the sky.
To further advance your career, you need to be intentional and look for growth opportunities. Set clear goals and objectives. Take on more challenging projects and seek out ways to upskill. Networking becomes crucial at this stage. Work on building relationships with colleagues and/or industry leaders to open doors to promotions.
Remember, the journey to the penthouse requires consistent effort and determination.
Maintain your success on the 20th floor.
You have achieved success and you want to stay on the road to success. You are no longer satisfied with the views on the 10th floor, and you are ready to take on more. There is a new apartment available on the 20th floor, which is exactly what you want right now.
Upon arriving on the 20th floor, you’ve achieved notable recognition. You have worked hard to get where you are, and you are starting to enjoy the breathtaking views—but one day you’ll realize that it is not enough and you yearn for more fulfillment, which you will only get from reaching the penthouse. This stage is about sustaining your achievements and ensuring they continue to flourish.
To maintain success, you should:
• Be up to date on industry trends and innovations.
• Remain flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.
• Seek work-life balance.
• Be clear on your career purpose and operate with intention.
Influence from the penthouse.
The day comes when the penthouse becomes available, and you are finally ready for the challenge. You can now see what it would feel like to be on the top floor with the best view in the building. You are clear on your vision because there is nothing blocking your view.
At this stage, you are becoming an industry leader; you are an influencer and a subject matter expert. Your network of colleagues and counterparts respect and admire you. To reach the penthouse, you had to master transferable skills like leadership, collaboration, creativity, teamwork and communication.
At this stage, you should be sought after for your expertise, and your opinions will carry significant weight in your field. Now is the time to give back to your community and to help others build their career blueprint.
Where are you in your career skyscraper?
If you find yourself on the ground floor, focus on competence-building activities such as education, training and mentorship. For those on the 10th floor, emphasize goal setting, networking and seeking growth opportunities. If you’ve reached the 20th floor, prioritize staying updated and sharing your knowledge. And if you’re already in the penthouse, remember the importance of continued mastery and giving back.
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