I love this post by Penelope Trunk. It's for those who have a job and are looking to climb the ladder from the inside. I've spent so much time writing for those trying to get in, that I tend to forget about those who are already there. And, now that I really think about it, many of the conversations I have circle the question, "So, where do I go now that I got in?" The highly ambitious started asking me this almost as soon as they went from intern to employee.
The oft-mysterious and rarely articulated "career ladder": Where is it? How do you see it? Once you've achieved entry-level status, what's the next rung? In media companies, one can get hired on the ground floor as a "booker" or assistant. Then, you can move up in succession to openings that have more responsibility and pay more money. How to get there is done by doing what you were hired to do in the first place, doing it very well, not complaining and learning from others how they moved up. Where content is created at a large company, there is something of a path.
Non-media companies have career ladders too, but I get the sense that they are not clearly defined. So not only can it be tough to get in, but it can be equally as tough once you do, figuring out how to get from sharing a cube to having an office. These days I think there are few who stay long enough, (willingly or not) or companies that can pay the office rent for many employees to have an office they deserve.
Ms. Trunk's list is a very good one. I'll only focus on this one line in her rule #5 where she wrote: "I realized that no one cared about my ideas, so I did my own stuff on the side.." This is exactly what I did while at NPR. I did my job, developed a quality reputation and then launched a program inside the company by initially volunteering to help the interns reach their ambitions. I did it on the side at first and then it became my job. I wasn't officially promoted to the position but how many employees get to write their own job description for what became a dream job? I didn't get more money or give myself a fancy title. But I did get to call the shots and was given room to grow a program that was my idea.
Next time you're wondering how to get promoted, think about what ideas you have that--with some persistence, patience and vision--could help your company solve a problem. What is your employer not doing? And, could you do it?
If so, then step up.
*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog
