From Junior to Mid: Move Up, Make it Your Own

I have been out of school and in the career world for a little over five years. Meaning I have moved from the “someone with 3- 5 years experience” category to “someone with 5-7 years of experience” category. It has me feeling that bittersweet nostalgia you get when you move from the 18-24 demographic to 25-30. You’re proud of your growth and accomplishments, but you realize you might not be the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed “young talent” people always seem to be  looking for. Even though there is still SO much to learn! 

Moving from a junior-level to a mid-level position may seem crazy (also see: stressful, daunting,  overwhelming) but it is important to remember career growth is different for everyone, and there are a lot of factors that play into moving up the ladder. 

Every Job is Different

Not only is everyone’s career growth different, but every job and company is different. Sometimes the ladder is clearly laid out before you, you start as an assistant account coordinator and with hard work you keep climbing and get promoted to an account executive. Other times, you are the only social media manager in the company and you have to define your own trail. In both situations, in order to grow, it is important to remember where you started. Take the time every few months to update your resume just to reflect on how much you’ve learned and accomplished. Growth isn’t always defined by a title, it’s about what you were able to do within your role to expand your responsibilities. 

Outside Growth

Moving up in your career might not just depend on what happens within your 9-5 job. Pause and reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown outside of your career. Have you taken additional classes or attended helpful webinars? How has your passion project or side hustle grown? Maybe you had a big life change and had to take on a new level of personal responsibility. All of these things come with lessons that can help you advance in your career. Opportunities are everywhere, don’t feel like you are limited to what you do during the work week. 

Make Your Goals Clear 

Make sure your goals are clear, not only to yourself but to your manager. They are there to help guide you so let them know what your aspirations are. Not even the best manager can read minds. When it comes to review time, be sure to come prepared. Be ready to talk about your accomplishments, progress toward your yearly goals, and the steps you’ve taken to  successfully further your career? Being clear and direct with your aspirations is the first step in advancing your career. You might not be promoted right away, but your manager can help to expand your role and responsibilities to set you up for future advancement. 

In the end, take some time to breathe. Whether you’ve been working for three years or six, in the grand scheme of things, you are still at the beginning of your career. Take the time to explore and grow in all facets of your role, don’t feel rushed just because somebody else’s career path looks different than yours. 
// Image by Vlada Karpovich