How to Sidestep Blocks in Your Career Progression
Have you found yourself stuck in a role where you didn’t see an obvious opportunity for career progression?
I did.
Companies have their own set of criteria on what is required for advancement, such as rotating through certain roles or working in different locations. Others require you to exhibit certain skills, especially for getting ahead in technical roles.
Regardless of the reason, being stuck in a role with little opportunity for growth makes getting up to go to work unpleasant and has a negative effect on your morale.
In this article, I’ll share my experience being stuck in a role, what I did to get unstuck, and how you can apply my experience to your career.
The Seductive Job Opportunity That Twisted My Gut
I expected it to be a routine career discussion with my boss Jane - the typical what I did well, how I could grow my skills, and what my long-term career aspirations were.
When it came time for the career conversation, Jane said, “you know, we’ve been thinking about you for a long-term position in supply and trading. You would move to headquarters and be part of the global supply team. It could set you up nicely for a leadership position. I think it’s a great next step for you with your background.”
I nodded and thanked her. I asked her when I needed to relocate. She said it was at least a year away.
Inside, I was seething:
Who were they to decide where I lived?
Who were they to uproot my family?
And who were they to decide I’d actually want to work at headquarters?
That evening, my husband and I shared our days at work.
My husband had a super day. The project he pitched to his company’s management was accepted, and he looked forward to implementing it to help fix a nagging problem in his division.
I took a deep breath and told him, “Well, I had my annual career planning discussion today.” I paused.
“And…?” he said.
“And… they want us to move out of state to headquarters so that I can move into a global supply and trading position.”
He frowned. “Hmmm.”
“Yeah, hmmm,” I agreed and added, “which gives absolutely no consideration to you and your career, let alone the disruption to the family.”
The Career Conflict I Faced
My spouse was doing extremely well in his own career. He was progressing up the ranks into a leadership position well within his area of expertise. The bulk of his company’s organization was in our town, so there was no way he could continue doing what he was doing out of state.
If I accepted the headquarters job, he would have to resign. And the way internal politics were, there was no way my company would hire him.
If I didn’t accept the headquarters job, I’m not sure what I would do next. There wasn’t really a good role for me that I would be excited about. And with internal politics, there was no way I could move to a different division of the company that would challenge me or provide opportunities for travel. I would be stuck at the manufacturing site.
I knew a few coworkers who had not accepted the job that was determined to be their next step. They were passed over and placed in lesser roles. No more big career opportunities for them - they were reduced to a secondary priority within the company.
My husband would have resigned his position if I really wanted that headquarters job. I didn’t really want to move - I didn’t like the city where it was located. Plus I’d have the guilt of knowing that I pulled him away from work that he loved. And I wasn’t sure if the raise I would receive would support a lifestyle we had built on two incomes.
It became clear to me that my career progression at my company was limited unless I chose to drastically change my personal life.
How I Came To Terms with My Next Career Move
I had to figure out what career planning actually was.
I believed that if the company wanted me to take a certain assignment, that was probably the best thing for me in my career. I’d grow skills in a particular area and I’d continue advancing in the company.
What I didn’t see before is that although the company could continue giving me progressively bigger responsibilities, it gave little to no consideration to the impact of those responsibilities on my personal and family life.
In my company, the expectation was that you were willing to work all around the world if you wanted to advance in your career. Spouses were expected to resign or become self-employed or take paltry jobs at the company - assuming any were available.
That was just part of the way the company rolled.
And if I didn’t take the assignment, I’d be passed over.
I realized that the company culture was not compatible with my personal and family life.
My career advancement at the company was in jeopardy.
I Took Myself Off a Linear Career Path
Career development doesn’t have to be linear - it can have twists and turns as part of your overall skill growth.
Since you’re the one driving your career growth, you get to choose which twist and turns serve you best.
I re-evaluated what I wanted from my career:
A boss who advocated for me while respecting my need for balance in my life
Interesting work with interesting people, and
The opportunity to travel for work
There was no way that my company would give me what I wanted - it had already been decided that my career progress entailed moving to headquarters to fill the role that they had chosen for me.
My new focus: finding a new company that would give me the growth opportunities that I wanted while supporting my personal and family life.
I ultimately found that new company through my professional network.
By redefining what success looked like to me, I was able to break through my career roadblocks.
Here's What You Can Do to Tweak Your Career Trajectory
If you feel stuck in your career, there are a few practical things you can do to start working through that feeling.
First, you can evaluate your overall career picture.
What’s working well?
What’s not working well?
Are you happy in your current position?
Do you get the support you need from your team and from your boss?
Are there any red flags that you’ve been ignoring?
Second, decide what you want out of your career long-term.
What type of work do you like doing?
What skills do you like using?
What new skills do you want to develop?
What roles and experiences do you want to have?
How does your family fit into your career?
For me, career success was professional growth through progressively challenging assignments while maintaining my family’s well-being.
Leaving my company was the right choice for me, but it might not be the right choice for you.
Only you can determine what success looks like for you.
Understanding both your personal and your professional needs can guide you toward a fulfilling career path. You can better identify choices that honor both your professional development and your personal values.
When you’re ready for support, here’s where you can learn more about what I do.
Heather Lakatos Career Breakthrough Strategist View My Bio