I’ve always been ambitious and have continuously worked hard in my career to progress. Straight out of university, I secured a PR internship as I wanted a career in the PR industry. During my internship, I devised a plan detailing all the actions I was going to take to help me secure a senior position. Naively, I thought that if I had done everything on the plan, in at least 5–7 years, I’d be in a senior role with a ‘good’ salary. Filled with hope and ambition, I was ready to put in the work to reap the rewards. Little did I know that planning careers isn’t linear.
We live in a world where we’ve become obsessed with climbing the career ladder so quickly that we often neglect other areas of our lives. Over the past few years, I’ve decided to slow down, pause, and invest more time in myself. My career is still important to me, but I feel drained, so I’ve paused to refuel my energy. As a Black woman, climbing up the career ladder isn’t easy. So, I’ve made more effort to invest my time and resources in myself, which I believe is the ultimate prize.
Career roadblocks
The early years of my career were mostly trial and error. I job-hopped from PR to marketing, searching for a role that would best suit me. Changing careers is no easy feat, and this impacted my salary, which remained stagnant in the early stages. The main pathway to solving the salary dilemma was through a promotion or another role at a different company. Securing promotions wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be. Faced with misogynoir (sexism and racism) and work challenges, it became increasingly difficult to secure promotions. I had to constantly prove that I was competent (and I was competent, at times overqualified), which was frustrating and chipped away at my confidence. This, I had definitely not anticipated when I put together my career plan. I also made some wrong career moves and joined companies where there were little to no career progression opportunities.
The truth is, we all face career roadblocks that can leave us feeling unfulfilled and stuck. I now see this as a sign to slow down and pause. We have 30–40 years of working years ahead of us; career roadblocks are blocks that you can move to clear your path. It’s temporary and not long-term.
I’m tired; it’s time for self-preservation
After grinding for years trying to reach my career goals, I’ve decided to stand still and not be so focused on building a thriving career. I’m tired of constantly having to prove that I deserve to be in spaces for which I’m qualified. I’m tired of having to put in a lot of work and be rewarded with very little. I’m tired of being overlooked because I don’t fit. I’m tired of corporate politics. I’m tired of the workplace.
I’m going to take my time
I’ve got 30+ working years ahead of me, and I’ve decided to make the most of it. I’m going to slow down and not be obsessed with climbing the career ladder. I’m not going to stress myself over career roadblocks as they’re all part of the journey. Having a thriving career isn’t the be-all and end-all. Life is bigger than careers, and as long as you’re okay with your job and can afford to live your life, the rest doesn’t really matter. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be ambitious and aim high; it’s about preserving your energy. The workplace can be draining, so it’s important to prioritize your mental health and assess what works best for you. Personally, I’ve decided to slow down and take time in achieving my career goals. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon, and you have to be in this for the long run.
