Career Progression within company

RHEL

Hey all. Just curious about your thoughts on career progression (in your current company and role). Let's say you're already in your dream position, but still want to advance. Typically titles are tiered junior, mid, senior, etc (level I, II, III).

Clearly working hard and doing your job well is a start, but how do you work toward progressing to a higher tier? Do you just let it happen or do you mention your desire to progress with your manager and ask to help shape goals for getting there?

In my situation, I'm on a team with a lead, three level IIs, and two level IIIs. I'd like to progress to level III, but have no idea what is needed to get there.

jmritenour

My company lays out pretty clearly what the guidelines are moving up. We've got an associate development portal on our intranet that details what the requirements are to get promoted, and what a reasonable time frame is to expect a promotion.

I just recently was promoted to Senior Consultant, just a couple of weeks shy of my one year anniversary. I didn't really lobby for it, or even expect it - my project manager sent me a text asking me if I could speak with her and my manager later in the day. I figured it was going to be about another project that I was being requested as a resource for, and I was pretty surprised then they told me I had been selected to be promoted.

I'd say if you don't have any clear direction, talk to your manager. Make it known you want to develop and grow professionally, and you want to do it within that company. Work with them to set goals and figure out what is needed to advance. If the tier 3s are under a different manager, talk to that person as well (albeit with the knowledge & blessing our your current manager). And a previous job, I moved from admin the engineering pretty quickly, and a large part of that was by working with the director of engineering on a couple of late night production down issues, and establishing a rapport with him.

tkerber

Career progression is something YOU have to take into your hands. Nowadays I've found it difficult and just not even worth my time to 'move up' the ladder at companies I've worked at. However, the best suggestion I can make to you is--make your voice heard. Tell your manager that you're interested in moving up to higher positions and ask him if there are any projects you can get on or if there is a way that you can get there. If you sit around and wait for this to happen, you'll be a level I until you retire.