Ever feel like your career moved too fast?

[steph96]

Today I had to look at some paperwork that listed all the names, ages, and titles of a lot of the people at my company. Of course I looked at the ages of everyone in my field. I realized that age wise, I am way ahead of them in my career.

I started at what I will call level 2 and I got promoted to what I will call level 3. I'm in my early 20's. Everyone in level 2 is mostly 22-35 years old. Most of the people start level 3 around 30-35 years old. Now there is only one level above me before you get into management. All the people at level 4 started sometime in their early 40s. They then either stay in that position until they retire or they go into management.

I just feel like there is nowhere for me to go anytime soon. I wanted to get my professional license to move up to level 3, but I'm already here. I feel like I'm probably stuck at this job title for probably 10+ years. I'm not okay with that. I am still able to receive yearly raises, but they will likely just be COL raises. I guess I feel like I peaked too early and now I will feel like a failure since I probably won't be able to compete with all the other more experienced people applying for level 4 jobs in 5+ years. Why would they hire me when everyone else has 10-20 years more experience? Plus I'm just amazed by all the people that are perfectly happy staying at level 2 until they retire. I'm not happy being stagnant in my career.

Has anyone else ever felt like this?

[crashgizmo]

Yes, this sort of happened to me. Through a series of good opportunities, skill and a little "right place right time" I was in a position at 27 that was my goal for about 35. Since then, I have done the same job for more money at other organizations. It's basically the highest level in my field you can go, but there are much larger organizations, so that's the plan. The other route people go in my field (often after retirement) is consulting, which I am doing now (at 34) and don't love. I'm actually glad I got to realize that earlier, so I can go back into the direct service work at a relatively young age.

I think the biggest challenge has been a lack of motivation to move up, which I know drives others. Instead I've had to motivate myself for personal professional improvement. I've received a few business awards (and have a few more as goals!) and some optional certifications, just to keep my skills sharp and be on my game.

Overall, it's been a good thing because I felt like my career was established much earlier than many of my colleagues, and if we were going to have a family I would have been in a great position to take time off and come back. We aren't, so now I'm focusing on retiring early by making as much money as possible now.

[noodleoo]

Huh, this seems like a weird thing to complain about. I'm assuming you are making more money at your level than other people your age at a lower level. You realize that by attaining a higher salary earlier, you will make a lot more money over the years. ANd there are always new opportunities at other companies. I'd be pysched that you are so far ahead of your peers, not disappointed.

[L]

#bragplaint

[treedimensional]

Nov 24, 2014 13:29:15 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Today I had to look at some paperwork that listed all the names, ages, and titles of a lot of the people at my company. Of course I looked at the ages of everyone in my field. I realized that age wise, I am way ahead of them in my career.

I started at level 2 and I got promoted to level 3. I'm in my early 20's. Everyone in level 2 is 22-35 years old. Most start level 3 around 30-35 years old. Now there is only one level above me before management. All the people at level 4 started sometime in their early 40s. They then either stay in that position until they retire or they go into management.

I just feel like there is nowhere for me to go anytime soon. I wanted to get my professional license to move up to level 3, but I'm already here. I feel like I'm probably stuck at this job title for probably 10+ years. I'm not okay with that. I am still able to receive yearly raises, but they will likely just be COL raises. I guess I feel like I peaked too early and now I will feel like a failure since I probably won't be able to compete with all the other more experienced people applying for level 4 jobs in 5+ years. Why would they hire me when everyone else has 10-20 years more experience? I'm amazed people are happy at level 2 until they retire. 

Why would they hire you over someone with more experience? Why wouldn't they? Sounds like they have already done this more than once. Why did they promote you so fast? OBVIOUSLY there is something exceptional about you.

Why not just throw that playbook out the window? That is what happens typically, but not to you. Congrats on your stellar career!

[steph96]

Nov 24, 2014 16:30:21 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Huh, this seems like a weird thing to complain about. I'm assuming you are making more money at your level than other people your age at a lower level. You realize that by attaining a higher salary earlier, you will make a lot more money over the years. ANd there are always new opportunities at other companies. I'd be pysched that you are so far ahead of your peers, not disappointed.

I really didn't realize that I was so much younger than everyone else at my level until today. I am happy with where I am (minus my manager) and I am very happy with the pay. It is just depressing to know that this could be as good as it is going to get for the next 10 years. That is such a long time to have the same job title.

[Deleted]

No. I was a pretty young manager -but everyone thought I was older. They thought I was 5-10 years older than I was.

15 years later I'm still a manager but I was able to work pt for a while and also take 4 years off. title doesn't really mean much in my industry as it relates to compensation. I make much more than I did back then, and DH has the exact same title as me and makes significantly more than I do now.

[protozoa]

No. I moved up very quickly in my early to mid 20s as well. But since then I've done different things all in related areas and gained different experience without constantly moving up.

[Deleted]

I was the youngest manager in my team by 20 years for a while.

Then other people similarly aged joined the team so it wasn't strange.

I could stay at this level until I retire--a lot of people do. It would be a little weird to be in the same level since 26 and that seems unlikely.

I like my job and am glad I make a good living, so I'm not going to worry about it.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Nov 24, 2014 16:30:21 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Huh, this seems like a weird thing to complain about. I'm assuming you are making more money at your level than other people your age at a lower level. You realize that by attaining a higher salary earlier, you will make a lot more money over the years. ANd there are always new opportunities at other companies. I'd be pysched that you are so far ahead of your peers, not disappointed.

FWP

[pinkdutchtulips]

Nov 24, 2014 16:52:34 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Nov 24, 2014 16:30:21 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Huh, this seems like a weird thing to complain about. I'm assuming you are making more money at your level than other people your age at a lower level. You realize that by attaining a higher salary earlier, you will make a lot more money over the years. ANd there are always new opportunities at other companies. I'd be pysched that you are so far ahead of your peers, not disappointed.

I really didn't realize that I was so much younger than everyone else at my level until today. I am happy with where I am (minus my manager) and I am very happy with the pay. It is just depressing to know that this could be as good as it is going to get for the next 10 years. That is such a long time to have the same job title.

in my 15 years of working .. the current title is the one I've had all these years. for my position (paralegal) there really isn't a lot of room to advance unless you're at a HUGE law firm and even then, you can spend YEARS at the same title/level.

[noodleoo]

Nov 24, 2014 16:52:34 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Nov 24, 2014 16:30:21 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Huh, this seems like a weird thing to complain about. I'm assuming you are making more money at your level than other people your age at a lower level. You realize that by attaining a higher salary earlier, you will make a lot more money over the years. ANd there are always new opportunities at other companies. I'd be pysched that you are so far ahead of your peers, not disappointed.

I really didn't realize that I was so much younger than everyone else at my level until today. I am happy with where I am (minus my manager) and I am very happy with the pay. It is just depressing to know that this could be as good as it is going to get for the next 10 years. That is such a long time to have the same job title.

Why would you stay there for 10 years without a promotion?  Stay long enough to get good experience, and then if they aren't promoting you, start looking elsewhere.  You seem to worrying about something that you can control.  There is no reason to stay there for 10 years in the same position unless you want to.

You also don't know what other htings will be going on in your life.  Your current position and salary will open a lot of doors for you. You could probably afford to buy a house much sooner that your lower level counterparts.  Or pay off your student loans, or travel or whatever you want.  Or maybe you get married and want to have kids and having a good tenure in your position at one company will give you options to work part time or have a more flexible schedule.  Or maybe you'll get promoted to an even higher level well ahead of your peers!  It is so weird to me that you are taking something awesome and looking at the downside instead of all the upsides.  Are you usually this pessimistic?

[Marmee]

Sounds like they were happy with your job so promoted you. Why not feel like that's continue? Age & experience aren't everything. People often reward hard work, quality, ambition, dependable ness, etc in jobs. My H is 39 & basically at the top of his firm...it happened in 8yrs & he's younger than many people he passed by. It's not all about age/experience. A lot if those people aren't wanting anything more & have a "work to live" mentality which is perfectly fine. My Dad stayed one step from the top (Sr. VP) of his bank until retirement. He passed on becoming President because he didn't want what came with it (namely more stess & time away from his 5 kids).

[sillygoosegirl]

Nov 24, 2014 16:30:21 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Huh, this seems like a weird thing to complain about. I'm assuming you are making more money at your level than other people your age at a lower level. You realize that by attaining a higher salary earlier, you will make a lot more money over the years. ANd there are always new opportunities at other companies. I'd be pysched that you are so far ahead of your peers, not disappointed.

All this. Through a series of lucky circumstances, and also a lot of talent and hard work, I am also ahead for my age. I think it's pretty awesome. Yes, I might stay at this "level" for a long time, and once I move up to the next one I'm basically "stuck" at that "level" without moving into management. But... That doesn't mean I won't grow in skill and prestige, or that my accomplishments won't be recognized. I also happen to think my work is as good or better than that of other people at my level, so I don't think lack of years on the job will hinder me in moving up in my current organization.

[cheezer]

This was how I was in my previous career. I'd started right out of college, did well, but essentially after 5 years there wasn't very far to go. I would essentially wait 15 - 20 years until my boss retired to take his job.

I switched careers. My new career has more movement but there's some risks here too.

[wanderlustmom]

I am glad things have gone so well for you, I hope you enjoy the benefits of your hard work.

Not true for me. I am a social worker. So I don't move up at all in private practice. I just see enough clients a week if I do my job well.

[steph96]

Nov 24, 2014 18:18:55 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Nov 24, 2014 16:52:34 GMT -5 steph96 said:

I really didn't realize that I was so much younger than everyone else at my level until today. I am happy with where I am (minus my manager) and I am very happy with the pay. It is just depressing to know that this could be as good as it is going to get for the next 10 years. That is such a long time to have the same job title.

Why would you stay there for 10 years without a promotion?  Stay long enough to get good experience, and then if they aren't promoting you, start looking elsewhere.  You seem to worrying about something that you can control.  There is no reason to stay there for 10 years in the same position unless you want to.

You also don't know what other htings will be going on in your life.  Your current position and salary will open a lot of doors for you. You could probably afford to buy a house much sooner that your lower level counterparts.  Or pay off your student loans, or travel or whatever you want.  Or maybe you get married and want to have kids and having a good tenure in your position at one company will give you options to work part time or have a more flexible schedule.  Or maybe you'll get promoted to an even higher level well ahead of your peers!  It is so weird to me that you are taking something awesome and looking at the downside instead of all the upsides.  Are you usually this pessimistic?

I don't think I'm being pessimistic. When I saw all that information on my peers, I just had a moment of "wow. Is this really it?" I always felt like there would be so much more to a career. My job doesn't challenge me like I thought it would. I feel lucky to be where I am. It is just sad to think that I have hit a wall for now. I don't know if I will ever be interested in going into management so it is weird to think that if I stick with this company (which I really do enjoy and many people do make an entire career out of it) that I only have one more level to go up and that will be it. A few people mentioned starting families once they got to a good level. Maybe that will also change my way of thinking in 3+ years. Right now my only goals are career goals. Maybe I need to create some personal goals to help me feel accomplished.

[pamela]

I'm also young for being a supervisor in my field, however, thanks to a practically missing decade of workers, my career chances are fast tracked for at least a couple of levels. Not only am I younger than typical, but far fewer years of actual experience than typical predecessors to this job. But someone who hired me thought I had what it takes (or more of what it takes than the other applicants, I'll take the positive spin).

Problem comes in that as you move up in management, the number of positions gets less and less so there are some people who are going to have to be happy just staying at a particular level. Now if that level isn't for you and you really want to move up and have what it takes, you may have to move companies. But there are 2 parts to a job becoming stagnant - pay and responsibilities. Sure, you can have the same job title for a long time, but if you are adding to your responsibilities, taking on new/different projects, doing cross-discipline work, whatever extra looks like for your field, it's not really stagnant.

[Deleted]

I've spent 10 years working up to my position, and I'm there. I can't go any farther at my company. I'll officially get a VP promotion at some point, but I already do all the work, so it'll be the same shit with a different title.

I dont feel like a failure, but I do feel that I've hit a concrete wall. I like new challenges and learning new things. I learn new things here and there (who doesn't) but I can perform every position in my company. I do enjoy coming up with strategies to increase production and efficiency, putting out fires, and brainstorming ideas. I still feel like I need something more to work towards though.

But this is obviously a FWP and I'm thankful for my job and my success. I think my issue is that for so long, my career has been my personal mission, and now I'm there. I need to find ways to better myself in other life departments and I can channel my mental energy into something else.

[expatpumpkin]

Change companies if you feel stagnant in your position. You'll likely make significantly more money by switching companies as well.