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How long does it usually take to move up the corporate ladder and what can you do to move up?
I am very dedicated to having a job that Im interested in as a career and the job that i'm interested in is I.T. #career #business #career-path #job
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7 answers
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Lisa’s Answer
The time it takes to move up the corporate ladder depends on many factors. Being successful in any role you're in is a critical factor. By ensuring you have mastered your craft with any job you have, you're demonstrating the traits that companies are looking for when considering you for advanced roles. On average, I've seen people get promoted after two years of demonstrating success in role.
When you are considering advancing in your career, it would be wise for you to evaluate whether you are ready to take on the new challenge. Oftentimes as you move up the ladder, the scope of work expands. As an example, you could be moving from an individual contributor to being a manager that is responsible for leading a team. To best set you up for success with any advancement, you should seek out opportunities to advance your skillset to support the transition. If you're becoming a manager, consider taking leadership courses.
If you're seeking a promotion, my recommendation would be to also demonstrate that you are continuously developing your professional skillsets. Demonstrate this by volunteering for projects at work, sign up for classes that allow you to better learn the company or industry you're in, enroll in business management courses, join online forums or professional groups to learn more from others, etc.
When you are considering advancing in your career, it would be wise for you to evaluate whether you are ready to take on the new challenge. Oftentimes as you move up the ladder, the scope of work expands. As an example, you could be moving from an individual contributor to being a manager that is responsible for leading a team. To best set you up for success with any advancement, you should seek out opportunities to advance your skillset to support the transition. If you're becoming a manager, consider taking leadership courses.
If you're seeking a promotion, my recommendation would be to also demonstrate that you are continuously developing your professional skillsets. Demonstrate this by volunteering for projects at work, sign up for classes that allow you to better learn the company or industry you're in, enroll in business management courses, join online forums or professional groups to learn more from others, etc.
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Mike’s Answer
Great question and one I think about often as well. A piece of advice I was given in college and during various internships was to understand the value and techniques of building relationships and influencing people. In big corporations, it's key to both perform in your role from a technical perspective, but also to effectively communicate and be a valuable business partner. This will start to build your brand/reputation and open up more doors for promotion and additional responsibilities. The more people who have positive experiences working with you, the better. Becoming a Leader is not an overnight occurrence in the corporate world, but it is achievable with hard work and dedication to both your day-to-day duties and nurturing relationships.
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Michele’s Answer
You are off to a good start, Kadar. You've already identified that your chosen field is something that you really enjoy and you are committed to put in the effort. That's a critical step in growing your career. It is important to understand that there is no set schedule for progress and achievement. Hard work and delivering value are key components to career growth, along with a little patience. Some other things that will help you:
- Establish a plan, but be flexible. Monitor your progress against your plan, and be prepared to pivot, modify, and adjust as needed to follow the right path for you.
- Find mentors in the organization to help you - at least one. Look for someone with experience and skills, a leader who can offer you guidance and help you in your professional development.
- Build a network. Establish contacts throughout your organization - people that you can help and who can help you. This will help you establish your personal brand and also to expand it. Knowing people who know your strengths, capabilities, and work ethic will help you gain exposure to potential opportunities for new experiences and growth.
Good luck!
- Establish a plan, but be flexible. Monitor your progress against your plan, and be prepared to pivot, modify, and adjust as needed to follow the right path for you.
- Find mentors in the organization to help you - at least one. Look for someone with experience and skills, a leader who can offer you guidance and help you in your professional development.
- Build a network. Establish contacts throughout your organization - people that you can help and who can help you. This will help you establish your personal brand and also to expand it. Knowing people who know your strengths, capabilities, and work ethic will help you gain exposure to potential opportunities for new experiences and growth.
Good luck!
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Nicole’s Answer
It depends on several factors, such as your performance, your area of interest, how in demand a particular technology is, and how much expertise you have in your field. It also depends on your ability to communicate well, work in teams, and influence people in different levels of a company.
Since you're still a student, it might be a good idea to create a LinkedIn profile and reach out to professionals who work in the field you are interested in and ask them about their career journeys.
Since you're still a student, it might be a good idea to create a LinkedIn profile and reach out to professionals who work in the field you are interested in and ask them about their career journeys.
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Bob’s Answer
Lisa, Michele and Brad offer great advice. Certainly, should you be passionate about your chosen career, perform excellently in each role you are given and continue to add to your skill set; it is likely you will successfully move up the corporate ladder.
I would offer that you should be critically aware of the significant changes you will have to make as you rise in the organization.
When you first begin your career, you will be expected to have mastered a set of skills focused upon "doing" the work. That is, have hands on capability in your chosen career, For instance, in software you need to code, in training you need to teach, for manufacturing you need to work on the assembly line, in finance you need to be able to keep the books. In other words 100% is doing. As you move to first line management you will need to learn leadership skills-how to establish tasks, to motivate, to lead by example, to reward or punish, to establish succcessful teams. You will now be expected to have 50% doing skills and 50% managing skills.
As you become a manager of managers, this formula will change to 33% critical thinking/creative skills, 50% leadership skills and 17% hands on doing skills.
Then, as you move into executive levels you will be expected to have 60% creative thinking skills and 40% leadership. Finally, as President, you will be expected to have 80% creative thinking skills, with 20% leadership. As Chairman, you will need to have 100% creative, critical thinking skills.
Another choice is to become the very best in your profession, continue to learn and grow in your career endeavors and enjoy successive promotions as a "doer". Not everyone needs to be the President. The corporation desperately needs the very best, most professional, greatest performing "doers".
Read Books on Management and Critical Thinking. Study how managers above you lead.
Seek mentors to assist you in your movement from one level of responsibility to the next.
I would offer that you should be critically aware of the significant changes you will have to make as you rise in the organization.
When you first begin your career, you will be expected to have mastered a set of skills focused upon "doing" the work. That is, have hands on capability in your chosen career, For instance, in software you need to code, in training you need to teach, for manufacturing you need to work on the assembly line, in finance you need to be able to keep the books. In other words 100% is doing. As you move to first line management you will need to learn leadership skills-how to establish tasks, to motivate, to lead by example, to reward or punish, to establish succcessful teams. You will now be expected to have 50% doing skills and 50% managing skills.
As you become a manager of managers, this formula will change to 33% critical thinking/creative skills, 50% leadership skills and 17% hands on doing skills.
Then, as you move into executive levels you will be expected to have 60% creative thinking skills and 40% leadership. Finally, as President, you will be expected to have 80% creative thinking skills, with 20% leadership. As Chairman, you will need to have 100% creative, critical thinking skills.
Another choice is to become the very best in your profession, continue to learn and grow in your career endeavors and enjoy successive promotions as a "doer". Not everyone needs to be the President. The corporation desperately needs the very best, most professional, greatest performing "doers".
Bob recommends the following next steps:
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Jerri’s Answer
I think it's critical to know what you want and what career ladder you want to climb. I started out as a contractor in my current company at an entry-level and as I gained more exposure to the different teams and their functions, I started doing my research on their duties and if any of my strengths align. It's important to let your manager know that you are willing to grow within the company. I would always put time on the leader of the team to discuss learn more about their background, the team dynamic and see if it's something you may want to be a part of in the future. I offered my help to see if there are any projects I can jump on to get a sense of what they're all about and I ended up enjoying every moment of it and now I'm a program manager and run our Global onboarding programs.
My advice is to first come up with a plan, do your research, communicate with your manager, set goals for yourself and don't be afraid to network and learn about the different departments in your org.
My advice is to first come up with a plan, do your research, communicate with your manager, set goals for yourself and don't be afraid to network and learn about the different departments in your org.
Updated
Brad’s Answer
It is very important to gain exposure to different areas within a firm and find an area you are passionate about and excel as promotions take time. Patience is important. You need to set achievable goals, exhibit appropriate behaviors and collect feedback. Expect slow and steady progression and as you gain experience and do a good job, advancement in your career will follow.