Own Your Career Path, Don't Let Your Company Decide Your Journey

Good morning 9-5 Rebels!

Grab your coffee and enjoy.

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Own your career path

Don’t let someone else decide where you’ll be in five, ten, or twenty years.

How?

Always be growing.

If you’re in the same role for more than two years, without gaining additional responsibilities or significant raises, then you’re not growing.

If this sounds like you, then time for a change, you’ve settled for less.

Time for Change

Companies love employees who are okay with doing the same work for their entire careers. You're trained, you're willing to make compromises to keep your job, and you're okay with a meager raise every year. From their point of view, what’s not to love?

But this is terrible for you!

Once you’re comfortable with your role and tasks, you’ll hesitate to ask for new challenges. Enjoying the peace of the comfortable, while slowing down your growth.

When you stop asking for new challenges, you appear uninterested in promotions (which result in a lot of challenges), so companies let you simmer.

As you gain speed and skill, you’re expected to do more of the same work. Now you’re doing more for less money and not advancing your career.

And, for the last kick, your salary will be less than a new hire in the same role – raises rarely keep up with the standard of living and promotions are the only way to make up for the salary creep. (And especially so in a time of high inflation. You're making less than six months ago!)

You have to stand up for what you want in life, and this includes work.

Make the Change

Are you happy with your job? Are there roles that you’re interested in? Do you want a leadership role? What skills do you already have? What skills do you need to grow?

If you’ve discovered your career is owned by someone else, then make a change.

Do you have all of the tools you need for another job? If so, apply for the job. If not, find an online course and sign up.

Do you love your company? If so, you don’t have to leave. Instead ask about additional responsibilities or promotions.

Are there open roles at your organization? If so, inquire about them. If not, start looking outside of your organization.

Overcome Your Fear

Fear is natural at this step.

There is pressure to owning your career path, as you’ll no longer sit ideally by while others make decisions for you. Rather, you will be solely responsible for the outcome.

You have to step out of your comfort zone and empower yourself.

Tell yourself that you want to be an active participant in your career, not a passive observer.

1. Determine where you want to be in five years.

2. Put together a plan for reaching your goals.

3. Talk to your family and friends.

4. Share your dilemma, dream, and plan.

5. Ask for suggestions or personal experience.

6. Seek constructive feedback.

7. Act on your plan.

Act in Self-Interest

Companies have a conflict of interest when it comes to your career path. They would love to dictate how long you stay in each role, what your next step will be, and what contribution you provide to the organization.

If you’re stalling at work or not growing at the pace you want, then you must act in self-interest.

You have the means to own your career path…just acknowledge it and react.

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I hope you all have an amazing week!

Quinn