Career advice and tips for mid-level workers

CAN’T seem to break into the next level? Haven’t had a payrise in ages? It could be because you’re suffering from Jan Brady syndrome. Here’s how to dump it and move on.

Are you ‘stuck in the middle’ at work?

ARE you getting lost in the middle?

There seems to be an abundance of career advice for those just starting out. And there’s plenty of wisdom from the upper end of town for their similarly elite compatriots. But what if you’re just one of the people in the middle, the Jan Brady of the working world?

The middle-career workers certainly want more than their current lot:

— 77 per cent of those with one to five years of experience and 69 per cent of those with six to 10 years said they expected to be offered a promotion within two years at their current job, according to a study by LinkedIn.

— Forty-six per cent of those in the one to five years range and 36 per cent of those in the six to 10 years bracket also said they would consider moving to a new job within two years.

— Mid-career people can also be bribed for their loyalty with money. More than three-quarters of those surveyed indicated a pay rise could convince them to stay with their employers, followed by more than half for career progression.

So if you’re a middle person and you want more than you have, how do you get ahead in the dog-eat-dog world while competing with millions of others?

PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE

Make sure you’re putting yourself out there by taking opportunities as they come — maybe that’s a new project you can volunteer for or a networking event you’ve never attended. And once you’re in front of new people, be prepared to demonstrate your skills and characteristics.

But don’t just tell them, you have to show them. There are plenty of people at your level who say they can do this-and-that so it’s important to prove that you’re capable and willing to put in the extra yards.

JOIN GROUPS

Join professional associations or groups — both in person and online. Most industries have influencer groups and networking associations for you to meet others in your field. Members have joined with the express purpose of connecting with like-minded individuals so you should find them receptive to your company and what you have to offer.

Many associations also run mentorship programs so if you’re uncomfortable with working with a mentor inside your organisation, it’s a great way to connect with more senior people in your industry who are interested in guiding you.

BE A THOUGHT LEADER

Don’t leave it to the C-suite guys to corner this market. Your colleagues and the wider community are clamouring for thought leadership and the experiences of people at any level are valid — as long as you have something interesting to say.

If there is something you feel passionate about, or something interesting you’ve looked into, don’t be afraid to share it. Be proactive and don’t wait until someone asks. Perhaps there are internal communications or even an industry journal you can contribute to?

Your knowledge and expertise can be valuable to your organisation or industry, and your career when others recognise your contributions.

BE OPEN ABOUT YOUR GOALS

Use opportunities like performance reviews or sit-downs with your manager about what you’re working towards. Many people don’t take full advantage of open dialogue sessions to state what they want to achieve. Your manager and organisation can’t guess what you want to achieve in your career, only you can tell them — whether that’s more responsibility, an opportunity in an overseas office or a different portfolio or account.

If what you want doesn’t align with what they see in your future, then it’s better to find out sooner than waste another two years at a company that’s not interested in harnessing your skills.

Originally published as Career advice and tips for mid-level workers