An executive career journey isn’t as straightforward as climbing the corporate ladder anymore. No magic formula will guarantee career recognition and promotions until you reach the top. The career trajectory vision has morphed from a vertical bottom-up ladder to more of a lattice, with vertical, horizontal, and diagonal opportunities. The path through the career lattice is shaped by an individual’s personal and professional aspirations, as well as their current company’s needs and goals. The modern executive career journey requires strategy.
Considering this, try not to view your journey as a one-way path with a start and a finish but rather as a matrix of learning experiences that have molded you into the high-performing executive you are today. Approaching your career path like a puzzle and refining your career stories will help you uncover forward-thinking solutions and continue to build on your previous successes. When times get tough or something unexpected or out of your control happens, falling back on this career mindset will help you persevere, bounce back, and make your next move. Being grateful for any and all progress and success, no matter how small, is the foundation of an executive career journey.
Is Your Executive Career On the Right Path?
Ask yourself the following questions to help guide your career decisions. Write down your answers and revisit them regularly.
- What are your top 3 personal values? What are your top 3 professional values? Is there overlap?
- How do you define success?
- Do you sometimes catch yourself doing something repeatedly, hoping for different results? What can you do to change the habit?
- What one thing would you change about your career if you could?
- Who are your cheerleaders? Who inspires you? How can you engage them in your executive career journey?
To find out how we can help you breathe new life into your executive career journey, book a complimentary and confidential call with us here.
Let Me Help You With Your Executive Career Path
C-suite and Board-level executives that have professionally polished, well branded and strategically aligned resumes and LinkedIn profiles not only enjoy easier transitions, more interest, and robust offers—often 25% to 75% above their previous compensation plans—they gain the competitive edge and strategies they need to manage their C-level career transitions as well as they run their companies. Let us take the guesswork out of your next C-level transition. Click here to set up a 15-minute introductory call. We are interested in learning more about your goals and to see if we can help. We offer several executive resume writing services including coaching; LinkedIn optimization; executive recruiter, private equity and venture capital distributions; and strategy-focused private coaching sessions.
Mary Elizabeth Bradford is the Founder and Executive Director of CEOresumewriter.com and Maryelizabethbradford.com and a past executive recruiter. A thought leader in the career services industry for over 20 years, she holds 5 distinct advanced certifications for senior-level resume writing, online branding and executive-level job search coaching (CERM, CMRW, CARW, MCD, NCOPE). She has been seen and heard in major media including Forbes, Time, WSJ, Newsweek and NBC affiliate stations. She holds 2 CDI TORI awards and is a top tier judge for the elite CDI TORI awards for four consecutive years. Mary Elizabeth Bradford’s elite team of award-winning, certified, top executive resume writers, former top executive recruiters, and global HR executives help many of the world’s premier C-suite, board members and thought leaders secure the transitions and compensation packages they want. She works with clients all over the globe.
