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Hitting the career ceiling

14 March 2017 Career Advice
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Career ceilings can hit anyone


The glass ceiling is often used as a metaphor to describe the barriers that women face to success within the workplace, but this is a phenomenon that can affect both men and women. Career ceilings can in fact affect anyone, so that they find themselves in a position within their career when they feel they can go no further.

This might be due to any number of reasons – class and social background, age, disability, weight, appearance or simply being in a role that presents no options for career progression. Most of us possess a strong, in-built drive for success, and when we find ourselves in this position it can be immensely frustrating. Here are a few pointers that can help you combat the issue, should you find yourself in this position.
 

Regularly evaluate your prospects and position

The first step towards solving a problem of this kind is knowing that it exists in the first place. Many of us, once stuck in a rut, can simply sleepwalk our way through the day without making any effort to evaluate our position. If we do this for too long, the problem can become insurmountable, so the first thing you need to do is to ensure you recognise that you are being prevented from moving up the ladder if this is the case, then take steps to improve your situation.

Keep tabs on your performance – are you doing well? If you have been in a role for some time and produced consistently good work, you should eventually be in line for promotion, or at least for a review and most probably a pay increase. You should also keep an eye on what is happening to your colleagues. Are they in the same position or are they often being promoted at your expense? If the latter is the case, and you feel you are being overlooked, then you should consider the reasons for this. If you feel you are being discriminated against, this is unlawful and you could have grounds to protest.
 

Be vocal

If you don’t ask, you don’t get, and very often the reason you are not rewarded for your efforts is simply because you have not made it clear that you expect more. Others may be more vocal and employers will often put these people first in line for promotion of salary increases, as they are more likely to put up a fuss. This being the case, you should make sure that your employer is clear about your expectations, and if you are not offered regular reviews or opportunities for promotion, actively approach your line manager and bring the issue up. You may find that they respect you all the more for it.
 

Be prepared to create change

If you have done all you can within your current circumstances, then be prepared to think about alternatives. You may be better off looking for a new role elsewhere, where your talents will be more valued, or you may even find it is possible to set up your own business or to work on a freelance basis. Whatever the case, don’t stick with your current situation if it just hasn’t been working for you, but actively seek to make a change.

To find out more about how to get past these kind of barriers within the workplace, get in touch with one of our recruitment consultants at Morgan Hunt.

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