Meet Susan. In 2004, she completed a three year degree at a leading university. She joined the job hunting crowd, looked at dozens of positions and got interviewed for three. In the end, Susan went for the world class company that offered competitive remuneration, extensive training and opportunities to travel abroad.
She put in the hours and performed well. Honestly, she had little interest in the job, the training or work. Susan travelled a bit, mostly to crappy locations. She knew that life would get better as she climbed the ladder, while others job hopped.
After two years, Susan was promoted to a supervisor position, with a 20% pay increase, four weeks additional training and more travel. While she was proud to show off her new business card, she wasn’t too happy about managing five staff. She was bored, but got the job done. Fast forward to 2007 and she climbed the manager rung for the local operations. Susan found little meaning in her day to day work, but she survived from one payday to the next. She was travelling a lot more, and soon resented spending weeks away from her family.
Susan was ambitious and believed that if she reached the next level, she could be happier in life. However she needed more than a degree and Susan sweated two years in MBA classes. She graduated cum laude. Susan continued working hard, patiently waiting to reap the rewards.
When the senior manager retired in 2010, Susan was in the running for the top job.
She easily beat the competitors, packing in the qualifications, experience and relationships for the position. Susan was appointed as Senior Manager – Africa & Middle East. She’d made it – the status of a position in a top company, a corner office, a plum remuneration package & bonus scheme and first class seats to exotic destinations.
Six months later, Susan had a heart attack and during her stay in hospital, pondered over what really mattered to her. She realised what many talented professionals still had to learn: she built her career by ignoring her passion, chasing qualifications & skills, climbing the ladder for more perks and doing a terrific job at something that she doesn’t want.
Credit: Robert Couse-Baker
Are you climbing the wrong corporate ladder?
