Stairway to the top and beyond

No doubt a common aspiration among salary men is climbing the corporate ladder. For those who consciously set their mind on getting to the top, how realistic do they actually think it is that they will be able to reach the pinnacle of the pyramid?

This question is perhaps most relevant to those who believe themselves to be in a position to enter the last mile of a corporate tournament, the winner of which will be the lucky person doing the right job in the right place at the right time. Although this may seem like stating the obvious, how a person can put themselves in a position to be jockeying in the last mile of a corporate race is far from being obvious at the beginning of their career.

Typically, an average person’s career spans more than three decades. However forward-looking, there is only so much they can plan ahead meaningfully at any time. A lot depends on the career prospects a person can foresee in the immediate future at various stages in their career, either from their current employer or in the surrounding job market. All things being equal, however, they need to judge how much of a premium to put on loyalty to the particular employer they are working for.

While there are many pros and cons either to loyalty – assuming the employing company lasts that long – or job-hopping, there is no real guaranteed path to the top. But to be the last one standing in the final race, a person must have done the right job in the right place at the right time more than once throughout their career, culminating in the final glory. The question, therefore, is really about what wisdom there is in making the right career decisions all the time – not just for one shot.

It all depends on who we talk to. Of all the valuable advice we can possibly get, here are five lessons as food for thought.