We get higher education and finish the refresher courses, send out summaries, courageously go through all the interviews, get a position in a reputable company ... And, sometimes, we are trampling on one level, unable to move forward. Or do we choose the destiny of the "home" woman, afraid even to think of an answer to the question: "To be a housewife or to make a career?" What prevents us from succeeding? Let's see ...?
"I can not do this. I've never done this before. I do not have a special education. It's too late for me to learn. I'm too young, and I can not do it. " Who among us did not use such excuses ?! Meanwhile HR specialists and psychologists are sure: we program all career failures ourselves, and therefore the barriers are exclusively in our head.
"Careers are for the young"
Do you think that brilliant results are achieved only by being an unmarried childless girl who can afford to spend the night and spend the night in the office? Of course, from the side it seems that everything is easy for young people: the bosses appreciate the opportunity to send young employees on business trips and load them overtime. In addition, young people rarely take sick leave and leave too long. But if you are over 30, you have something that the young do not have - life experience and a deep understanding of business. "Few companies will choose a young girl as head of the department," says HR consultant Ekaterina Letneva. - Take a closer look: generally, high positions, especially if they involve working with people and managing a team, are given to people about 35 years old, held in the family and in the profession. So do not be afraid to talk frankly with the boss about career opportunities. It is better to start a conversation with a request to explain what knowledge and skills you lack to advance. Seeing your serious aspirations, the boss will definitely meet you. "
Do not be afraid and again sit down at the desk. "When I started thinking about my career, I had two schoolchildren and a dusty diploma of a psychologist, who had been idle for five years," says Olga Starova, business development director of the investment company. - By the time I changed my mind to practice psychology and went to get a second higher in management and economics. Learning at adulthood was much easier and, most importantly, more effective: I liked learning new things, teachers treated me with respect and willingly explained difficult questions. I remembered my former ambitions and, having received the second diploma, I began to move quickly along the career ladder to everyone. "
Olga's example is far from being the only one of its kind. "According to statistics, the later you get an education, the more thoroughly you go about choosing a profession," continues Ekaterina Letneva. "As a result, knowledge is given more easily, the necessary skills are developed faster, and you have less chance to be disappointed in the choice."
"I am a young boss"
And what if everything is vice versa? By the age of 24-26, you have already passed all the main stages of your career, and the bosses suggested that you take a leading position? "I feel awkwardly in the role of director," Oksana, 27, shares. "I'm supposed to lead people by the post, many of them over 40. I'm uncomfortable giving them orders, making comments and pointing out mistakes. If I am not satisfied with the result of their work, then it's easier for me to do everything myself than explain to the subordinate what I do not like. In the end, I spend a lot of time on tasks that are not my responsibility. "
"The situation of Oksana is pretty typical for a young boss, but, in fact, it is not worth complexing," explains Ekaterina Letneva. - It is necessary to try to build such relations with the subordinates, which will be convenient for you and for them. Try to invite them to a joint business lunch and take time to talk not related to work, for example, discuss with the staff the latest news, ask how they spent their holidays, find out where their children are studying. If you build friendly relations with the clients, it will be much easier to manage them. And do not hesitate to talk about mistakes, but do it competently: criticize the work, not the subordinate, and politely ask to correct the shortcomings: "I looked at your report. All is well, just add there, please, statistical data and make pages in the same style. "
"I'm ashamed to admit that I do not know something"
You refused to raise, because you were afraid that you could not cope with new duties ?! You have no idea how to draw up a non-standard contract, how to negotiate with a client and what to do in case of force majeure? And do you feel like a housewife in many working issues? Well, the leadership seems to have given up on you, drawing the conclusion that you simply do not need career growth.
"Never be afraid to tell your superiors honestly what is the reason for your refusal. So say: "I have never done this before and am afraid that I will not be able to quickly understand what is what", - advises Ekaterina Letneva. - Perhaps the boss will offer to take special courses or allow at first to clarify all the details from him. Remember: what you want to improve, already proves your value as a professional. Nobody expects that from the first days in a new position you will be able to cope with everything "perfectly." Everyone needs time to adapt, it's normal, and there's nothing wrong with that. "
"Career is the lot of geniuses"
Back in the university, your belief in yourself was undermined: in your student's record book there were mostly trios, and only to brilliant fellow students everything was easy. As a result, you dropped your hands and do not think about possible achievements at work.
But look back: geniuses often live modestly, and the Trojnik people make fortunes. "At any job, intelligence and intelligence are valued highly, but it is by no means always necessary to have extraordinary talents - most of the posts most likely involve the ability to communicate with people and, most importantly, ambitions," says Ekaterina Letneva. - Write down in the column those qualities that can play into your hands in your career, and think about where you could apply them, what you are interested in and what you are enjoying. Do not get hung up on just one "prestigious" version, especially if you do not like it. Perhaps it's just necessary to change the company or profile of activity and give yourself a chance to reveal yourself in a new way? "
How to defeat yourself?
Psychologists say: the main thing that prevents us from moving forward at work is fear. Someone in the matter of "I'll be a housewife or make a career" is easier to choose the first. Someone is afraid of not coping with duties, someone is afraid of the boss, someone is a colleague ... Try to get rid of your own fear with three easy exercises.
1) First, realize at last your fear. You are sitting in the same place for the third year not because you are not lucky, but because you do not take any steps yourself. So, you are afraid that ... the boss will refuse you, you will not be understood, you will not manage ... There may be many options. Your task is to understand what exactly you are afraid of.
2) The next step is to work out the situation. Use the so-called art techniques and draw in the form of comics or ordinary pictures all the pleasant and unpleasant situations at work. If you have inspiration, write a funny poem or story on a topic. As you "lose" all negative and positive scenarios - it does not matter. The main thing is that you appreciate all the possible consequences and stop being afraid of them.
3) Finally, start acting. No one except you can cope with the situation. And you, by the way, are responsible for your life. And you should be first of all interesting!
These stereotypes!
1. Without education there will be no career
Yes, a lawyer or a doctor can not become without education, but you can achieve peaks of mastery in journalism, advertising or design - enough evening courses and communication with colleagues.
2. By the age of 25 I should already know what I want to achieve
But what about the examples of people who in the middle of life changed their profession dramatically and achieved success? Do not give up the dream of fame and recognition, even if you are over forty.
3. To advance, I have to work overtime
Rather, your boss will decide that you are too slow and do not have time to do the work on time. And you yourself, constant delays in the office will lead to depression.
4. It is better to keep ambitions secret
But not when at the interview you will be asked about career plans for the next 5-10 years. The employer is interested in ambitious employees.
5. Continued employment speaks of zeal
But do not respond in time to calls and letters and refuse to help colleagues, motivating it with a lot of workload, is the right way to getting fired. Always be available to the boss and coworkers and demonstrate the willingness to help them at any time.
It is important to know!
40% of women understand only by 27-30 years what they want to do.
60% of women between the ages of 25 and 35 receive a second education or finish specialized courses.
30% of women become bosses at the age of 24-25 years and at the same time they manage their duties perfectly.
80% of the chiefs have at least one triple in their certificate.
More than 60% of office workers admit that they do not like their work. Should you join them? Work, by the way, takes up 80% of our time!