Climbing the Career Ladder to a Decent Job

One of the most frustrating challenges is finding a job that pays you enough to live. For some people the challenge is just getting any job at all. For others it is going from a good job to an even better job. However in this post, I will focus on progressing to a job beyond the most basic wage level. This is the first step in climbing the career ladder to a better economic future.

Obviously, there is a great deal more to job satisfaction than how much you get paid. However if you are making only McDonalds-level wages, there is almost no money left over after paying for rent, food and clothes. It is hard to find job satisfaction when you are poor.

These low paying jobs are often called “McJobs”, because they are the most typical job at McDonalds Restaurants, one of the world’s largest employers. McDonalds sell cheap food and pay cheap wages. But so many companies are now using the McDonalds formula of paying low wages and hiring mostly unskilled workers that some experts believe that McJobs are the wave of the future. McJobs are everywhere – in schools, retail stores, manufacturing, service industries, almost any where you look. So getting paid more than McJob wages is the most basic challenge for many people.

Surprisingly, people with McJobs are often intelligent, hard-working and well educated. They often have amazing skills as well. But in the job market, they find that their particular creative skills are not in much demand. They may have university education in liberal arts or science. They may be talented in music, art, sports, or in countless other ways, but find that these talents matter little to prospective employers.

So what should you do?

Get training for skilled jobs. This is usually done by a combination of technical programs in schools, colleges or universities, and on-the-job apprenticeships. Research to find out which skills are in demand is essential. Check with government offices for advice. Ask everyone you know where the better jobs are in your local area. You might even need to move to find them. You might consider training in construction, plumbing, electronics, accounting, sales, etc.

Find employers who don’t structure their organizations like McDonalds. There are entire businesses that are run like McDonalds where most people are paid very low wages. Avoid those employers completely, if you can. Small local companies often pay better wages than giant global firms. Find out about the wage structure before you start working for an organization.

Think long term. Finding a better job in just a few weeks or months is often impossible. But if you develop a sound strategy of getting both important skills and relevant job experience, you can eventually make progress. McJobs may actually provide you with very good training, providing you use it as a stepping stone to a higher level job and don’t stay stuck in this type of organization.

Find Job Counselors or Mentors to advise you. Often you will know people who have excellent jobs and knowledge about the economy who can advise you what steps are required to advance.

Take responsibility for your own success. People who blame the government or aggressively criticize their current employer will rarely get beyond just talking and complaining. You must take the initiative and accept full responsibility for your own future. Your success is not determined by the obstacles in your path; it depends almost entirely on you.

You must also present yourself positively at all times. Negative thinking patterns, attitudes, or a less than positive style of dress and mannerisms can often discourage friends or acquaintances from recommending you for jobs they are aware of. Try to be positive 24/7.

Develop your people skills and your social network. Getting good jobs often depends on who you know and how well you can present yourself. Stay in contact with many people, because often that is a better way to find job opportunities than through newspapers or the internet.

Finally, make your career your top personal priority – not just until you get a job, but throughout your entire working career. Getting a better job is only the first step to career success. Often, your job will come to an end for reasons other than your own performance. You should constantly improve your skills and experience to be ready for the next opportunity.

Life in the working world is tough, unless you are determined and very well prepared. But with patience, imagination and hard work, you can succeed!