What is the best way for a hardworking indivdual to get a head in the workforce?

Question

I am a recent college grad with over 10 years of experience. I have tried the "work hard & get noticed" approach to climbing the coporate ladder, but I always get worked over and passed by for the top positions. I apply for new positions, but I have found that I am either under or over qualified for most positions. What is going to be the best way for me to get out of the employment rut I am in. I am listed on every major website there is and I read the want ads like the bible with no results. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Be open-minded

I was in that same rut until I quit my last job and changed careers to a completely different field. I make a fraction of the money and have nowhere near the opportunity for advancement… but I love the work I do so none of that really matters anymore.

The best advice I can give is to not fall into the mindset that you need to work a certain job at a certain level in a certain field. When I left my last company I went through a few months of unemployment. Although I could have gotten the same type of job at a fraction of a percent higher pay rate than I left at, I passed.

I looked at some of the other skills I knew I had developed and used at various jobs and focused my resume on those instead of the obvious. Although I had worked in IT for years, I realized that I had twice that in Customer Service experience since much of IT is still customer based. That opened up a massive number of jobs and even allowed me to qualify for much higher level ones than the one I had left.

If your problem exists in advancing within a company once you get settled in, you’re not alone. The people I’ve seen advance are the “yes” men, who buy into the corporate logic and never dispute or raise any objections to it. Hollywood glamorizes the individual thinker and tells stories about people succeeding by being different (ever see the movie, “Big”?) but real life is entirely different. If you don’t feel like selling your soul to a corporation, you can consider turning to non-profit work or opening your own business.

Answer 2

Work on your leadership and communication skills. I can't imagine any other reasons why even half intelligent employers would keep "passing you up" if you are a hard worker. Maybe you do a great job in every respect but if you're not taking initiative, showing leadership, etc... that might explain such results.

But if you have a strong work ethic, then maybe your income goals aren't meant to be achieved in the employment world.

All I know is I used to get promotions and raises on a regular basis and had several employers throw me going away parties or hand over parting gifts because of my work ethic (seems similar to you)... but I wasn't feeling challenged enough and even with the raises, I wasn't accomplishing my income goals enough.

I took to the self employed approach and in 4 months replaced my full time earnings and since then have certainly surpassed these. Instead of trying to climb their ladder, I wake everyday working to climb further on mine.

Answer 3

Do you have a network.Use your college friend ship ,earlier job relation ships for getting introduced to better opportunities.Blind hard work troubles more in many situations.First dont over estimate your self and dont try to describe more about your qualities rather describe your acivements,skills and vision.Personally i believe you may on verge of getting excellant opportunity.
DONT put self forward rather show coolness ,maturity and other qualities expected from this much experience.I believe this much should be enough for climbing up.

Individual and personal assignments and self employment are best stratagies for such hard working ppl.

Answer 4

what are the biggest problems that your employers face? what do you do to solve them? If you are not looking to either decrease operational costs, improve marketing and/or increase sales, you will probably continue to get passed over. Do you need to take some leadership/management classes? Have you tried asking your employer what skills you would need to qualify for promotion? Have you let them know about your goals to do such and asked them for the track they recommend? You might consider looking into starting a home based business start acquiring some additions skills to work for yourself so your hard work pays off. Let me know if you need more assistance.

Answer 5

working hard isn't going to get you ahead, you will have to start brown nosing

Answer 6

YOU HAVE TO HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A HEAD. ITS ALL WAYS UP TO YOU. WHAT YOU DO DEPENDS ON YOU AND NO ONE BUT YOU, THIS IS LIFE, BUT HEAD..