Don't Let These Hurdles Overcome Your Career Goals

One thing about the last year in the Pandemic is folks are evaluating ever aspect of their life. From living location to friendships to where they are in their career. If you are unsatisfied with where you are in your career, you don’t have to lose hope. Even if you feel there are giant hurdles to overcome in order to fulfil your desires.

Here’s three common hurdles women are facing – and how to leap over them with confidence and grace.

Hurdle #1: A Lack of Qualifications

Going back to school isn’t something many of us want to do. But it sometimes needs to be a necessity. Especially when applying for leadership positions, employers will sometimes require some kind of management degree. Especially within industries that necessitate certain skillsets. For example, those working in construction would benefit from a construction management degree. This might be something you need to consider if you’re looking to move into a more senior position.

Cost can be an issue, of course, but look online for grants and scholarships for adult students. And look for free courses too. The Khan Academy is one such place to visit online, so browse what they have to offer and look for courses that align with your career goals.

Hurdle #2: A Lack of Experience

Qualifications are great but certain positions will require a certain level of experience too. If you’re remaining in the same career, you won’t exactly be short of experience. But if you are looking to move into more senior posts, you might need skills that you are currently lacking.

Team leadership is one skill that will be required from you. And you might need certain admin and client-facing skills too. You could pick some of these up where you are, perhaps by asking your boss for more responsibilities. You could also consider voluntary work in your community. This is a great way to lead others in with the same goals.

It’s also a good idea to find somebody to mentor you, be that in your place of work or your personal network, as they could teach you the skills needed for your career progression.

Hurdle #3: Being Out of Work

You may have started down a career path, but for whatever reason, you might currently be out of work. It could be because you have been made redundant. Or more commonly for women, it’s because you took time out to raise a family. Whatever the case, it can hard to get back on the career ladder after an extended break.

However, this is another reason why you might consider voluntary work as a means of picking up the relevant skills and experiences. You might want to take on a side-hustle too, especially one that is affiliated with where you want to be in your career. And if you’ve taken a break to raise a family, look deeply into all the things you DID do that can translate into a more traditional career.

By taking these steps, you will have more to add to your resume. But if you do struggle to attain the job you want, consider stepping back into an entry-level position again. Yes, this might be frustrating, but if you already have the skills needed, it shouldn’t be too long before you’re recognized for a promotion.

No matter what obstacles and hurdles are in the way of you having a satisfying career, be confident in your ability to leap over them.

Because when you commit to making a change in your life, you’ve taken the first critical step: changing your mindset about the obstacles. Do research to find specific advice for your situation. And confidently take the steps needed to bring you more fulfilment in your current career.