SNAKES AND LADDERS
by Margot Smith
Careers can sometimes be like Snakes & Ladders. You take on a high-profile project and overachieve, and you climb up the ladder. Next thing, you realise you are becoming too technically specialised, and you decide to take a step down to get more experience in a broader range of management and leadership skills, and down the snake you go. When people take a step down or sideways, even if it’s for very strategic reasons, the biggest success
factor is attitude. As in Snakes & Ladders, different roles (both paid and voluntary) are steps towards your ultimate destination. This is never a straightforward path. If you’re faced with a sideways or downward career step, my advice is to put your big girl (or boy) pants on and make the most of it. See it is an opportunity. After all, many other people would probably be grateful to have the role you’ve just secured.
LONDON CALLING I moved to the UK at the start of the global financial crisis. I considered myself quite the catch from an employer’s perspective and thought it would take me days, not weeks or months to land a role in London. But it took me two months to secure a three-month contract position.
It’s fair to say that I went to London to add global experience to my CV and also to enjoy living and working in Europe. During these two years, I travelled more than I have ever had the pleasure of doing before or after. I also met some lifelong friends.
I went from managing a team of 20 in Australia to flying solo in a project-based role. But I embraced it and, before long, I was offered another, meatier role.
So, my priority was living life to the fullest, not just career development. But it took me several years to get back to the responsibility levels of my preLondon role.
