• Business
    • Case Studies
    • Companies
    • Growth
    • Strategy
  • Functional
    • Finance
    • HR
    • Marketing
    • Science & Tech
  • Leadership
    • Be a Leader
    • Books
    • LDR Show
    • Leadership Nuggets
    • Movie Wisdom
    • Podcasts
    • Women & Leadership
  • Personal
    • Character
    • Values
    • Competence
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • E-Mag
  • Assessments
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
Leaderonomics.com
Leaderonomics.com
  • Business
    • Case Studies
      Crisis Communication: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

      Crisis Communication: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

      The 5 Step Plan to a Winning Social Media Presence

      The 5 Step Plan to a Winning Social Media Presence

      Embracing Digital To Power Growth

      Embracing Digital To Power Growth

      Malaysia: Celebrating A Nation's History

      Malaysia: Celebrating A Nation's History

    • Companies
      The Secret Sauce Behind the Success of a Co-Working Space

      The Secret Sauce Behind the Success of a Co-Working Space

      Women in Leadership: Opportunities, Balance, Challenges and Support

      Women in Leadership: Opportunities, Balance, Challenges and Support

      "As you keep developing your skills, you become like a fine wine", Says Nithin Kamath

      "As you keep developing your skills, you become like a fine wine", Says Nithin Kamath

      Why Connection is the Key to Organisational Performance

      Why Connection is the Key to Organisational Performance

    • Growth
      Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Disengaged Employees

      Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Disengaged Employees

      The Importance of Legacy in Leadership

      The Importance of Legacy in Leadership

      The Secret Sauce Behind the Success of a Co-Working Space

      The Secret Sauce Behind the Success of a Co-Working Space

      Women in Leadership: Opportunities, Balance, Challenges and Support

      Women in Leadership: Opportunities, Balance, Challenges and Support

    • Strategy
      Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Disengaged Employees

      Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Disengaged Employees

      Pssst! Are You Overworked?

      Pssst! Are You Overworked?

      "As you keep developing your skills, you become like a fine wine", Says Nithin Kamath

      "As you keep developing your skills, you become like a fine wine", Says Nithin Kamath

      What If You Ran Your Business Like an Over-Achieving Spanish Soccer Club?

      What If You Ran Your Business Like an Over-Achieving Spanish Soccer Club?

  • Functional
    • Finance
      How Your Personality with Money Can Influence Your Financial Decisions

      How Your Personality with Money Can Influence Your Financial Decisions

      Making It in Corporate Finance

      Making It in Corporate Finance

      The Disruption in Accounting and Finance

      The Disruption in Accounting and Finance

      An Income for Everyone

      An Income for Everyone

    • HR
      The Six Pillars of Vibrant Workplace Culture

      The Six Pillars of Vibrant Workplace Culture

      A Lesson in Leadership from the HR Perspective

      A Lesson in Leadership from the HR Perspective

      Understanding Performance Management Today

      Understanding Performance Management Today

      Change and Disruption: Fight It or Embrace It?

      Change and Disruption: Fight It or Embrace It?

    • Marketing
    • Science & Tech
      6 Key Digital Trends to Look Out for in 2020 and Beyond

      6 Key Digital Trends to Look Out for in 2020 and Beyond

      How Embodying Trust Builds Big Picture Leadership Capability

      How Embodying Trust Builds Big Picture Leadership Capability

      The Future of the Wood Manufacturing Industry in Malaysia

      The Future of the Wood Manufacturing Industry in Malaysia

      Building Technical Competencies to Support Vision

      Building Technical Competencies to Support Vision

  • Leadership
    • Be a Leader
      A Lesson in Leadership from the HR Perspective

      A Lesson in Leadership from the HR Perspective

      Fastest Woman on Earth Leaves Competition in the Dust

      Fastest Woman on Earth Leaves Competition in the Dust

      Should a 4-Day Workweek Be the New Norm?

      Should a 4-Day Workweek Be the New Norm?

      Let's Lead People to be Their Best Selves

      Let's Lead People to be Their Best Selves

    • Books
      Lessons from Tara Westover's Memoir, 'Educated'

      Lessons from Tara Westover's Memoir, 'Educated'

      Michelle Obama Says One Decision Separates People Who Achieve Success from The Rest

      Michelle Obama Says One Decision Separates People Who Achieve Success from The Rest

      Why You Should Assess A Leader’s Capacity For Critical Thinking And Judgment

      Why You Should Assess A Leader’s Capacity For Critical Thinking And Judgment

      5 Skills You Need To Be A Great CEO

      5 Skills You Need To Be A Great CEO

    • LDR Show
      It Started as a Fluke: Making It in the Hotel Business

      It Started as a Fluke: Making It in the Hotel Business

      Leaving a Mark That Goes Beyond Business

      Leaving a Mark That Goes Beyond Business

      Through the Ups and Downs of Business

      Through the Ups and Downs of Business

      Coding Made Easy with Low Code

      Coding Made Easy with Low Code

    • Leadership Nuggets
      Leadership in Four Dimensions: Jonas Prising on Human Resources, Malaysia and Leadership

      Leadership in Four Dimensions: Jonas Prising on Human Resources, Malaysia and Leadership

      "Have Intentionality In Your Daily Life", says Kim Underhill

      "Have Intentionality In Your Daily Life", says Kim Underhill

      "Explorers Are Map Makers", Says Jana Stanfield

      "Explorers Are Map Makers", Says Jana Stanfield

      Leadership Nuggets: Worry Not When We Fail

      Leadership Nuggets: Worry Not When We Fail

    • Movie Wisdom
      What I Learnt About Leadership from the Game of Thrones

      What I Learnt About Leadership from the Game of Thrones

      Lessons From Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

      Lessons From Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

      Leadership Lessons From Madam Secretary

      Leadership Lessons From Madam Secretary

      Lessons From A 68-Year-Old Classic That Changed The Face Of Visual Storytelling

      Lessons From A 68-Year-Old Classic That Changed The Face Of Visual Storytelling

    • Podcasts
      The Importance of Legacy in Leadership

      The Importance of Legacy in Leadership

      The Secret Sauce Behind the Success of a Co-Working Space

      The Secret Sauce Behind the Success of a Co-Working Space

      Understanding Performance Management Today

      Understanding Performance Management Today

      Personal Change Affecting  Your Career

      Personal Change Affecting Your Career

    • Women & Leadership
      Women in Leadership: Opportunities, Balance, Challenges and Support

      Women in Leadership: Opportunities, Balance, Challenges and Support

      3 Easy Ways Women Can Demonstrate Their Authority at Work

      3 Easy Ways Women Can Demonstrate Their Authority at Work

      Be A Leader With Queen Oprah

      Be A Leader With Queen Oprah

      5 Lessons from the Life of Chetna Sinha

      5 Lessons from the Life of Chetna Sinha

  • Personal
    • Character
      J.K. Rowling Says Success Has Nothing to Do With 'Destiny'

      J.K. Rowling Says Success Has Nothing to Do With 'Destiny'

      How to Overcome Overthinking and Get More Done

      How to Overcome Overthinking and Get More Done

      11 Things Organised and Productive People Do Every Day

      11 Things Organised and Productive People Do Every Day

      Hiking – Reflections That Will Take You to Greater Heights

      Hiking – Reflections That Will Take You to Greater Heights

    • Values
      J.K. Rowling Says Success Has Nothing to Do With 'Destiny'

      J.K. Rowling Says Success Has Nothing to Do With 'Destiny'

      Hiking – Reflections That Will Take You to Greater Heights

      Hiking – Reflections That Will Take You to Greater Heights

      The Power of Compassion in Leadership

      The Power of Compassion in Leadership

      Raise Your Game: Forming Your Identity

      Raise Your Game: Forming Your Identity

    • Competence
      J.K. Rowling Says Success Has Nothing to Do With 'Destiny'

      J.K. Rowling Says Success Has Nothing to Do With 'Destiny'

      How to Overcome Overthinking and Get More Done

      How to Overcome Overthinking and Get More Done

      11 Things Organised and Productive People Do Every Day

      11 Things Organised and Productive People Do Every Day

      Infographic: How Good Are Your Problem Solving Skills?

      Infographic: How Good Are Your Problem Solving Skills?

  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • E-Mag
  • Assessments
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Youtube
    • Instagram
Home
Syndicated

Career Advice For Women At Each Decade

October 6th, 2017 Personal, Personal Growth, Syndicated

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Career Advice For Women At Each DecadePersonal

LDR-PDF-download-110x110

By CAREY-ANN OESTREICHER

As an executive coach, I work with a lot of amazing people, both women and men.

Over time, I have seen some themes that women tend to follow throughout their careers that can either hold them back or help them launch into meaningful work at a high level.

There seems to be a life cycle for women which corresponds to their careers. If an individual plays her cards right in each area, she is home free on the career front.

Yet, if she hesitates or lets fear and insecurities hold her back, then she will have to play a game of catch up later on. To help women in their careers, I would like to share my advice with you for each decade:

Women in their 20s

First of all, have fun. This is the time in your life when your biggest stress factors are likely school loans and perhaps dealing with doing the grunt work in a role, starting out in the work world.  

Apply to all kinds of roles. Go for the jobs that interest you as a priority and ensure you can learn from that manager. Ask lots of questions in the interview to determine the fit both ways.

Choosing the right role and manager is even more important than the company you work for.

You can work for a great company, but if you hate what you do and who you work closely with, it won’t be a good experience.

Don’t be afraid to move around. I know you need to have a bit of stability on your resume, but this is the time in your life when you will be more open to making career changes.

The older we become, the harder it is to change. We become more set in our ways. So be daring in your career here.

I held five jobs at five different companies between the ages of 24 and 29.  

I did stay in one of those roles a few years, but the rest were quick stints and then something else came along more senior that paid better, so I jumped for it.  

I believe that making these jumps was critical for me to land a senior executive role by the time I was in my late twenties. I was fearless in making these moves, and it paid off for me.

Women in their 30s

This decade is often the period of greatest change for most women. If you haven’t gotten married or connected with a serious partner yet, chances are you will in this decade. And, you may also have your children here.

This tends to be the decade where most people invest in buying a serious life home that leads to a substantial mortgage so there are some pressures here around earning money and also, wanting to spend time enjoying life.

You have done the grunt work in your twenties, and you may be feeling the need to slow down a bit more.

My advice to you is to listen to that voice inside of you that seeks more balance. It doesn’t mean you have to throw your career out the window. But you do have a lot more of the adult stresses now and more priorities.

So, it is time to put boundaries in place to help you gain more balance. You likely could do it all in your twenties. Now, your energy is starting to lessen as priorities pile up.

Make exercise each day a priority to help keep your energy up and commit some time to yourself each day.

In your career, keep moving ahead with fulfilling work. By this age, you have earned some goodwill and credibility that means you can ask for more flexibility in your role.

As long as you are performing your job at a high level, most companies won’t care if you come in late to see your child’s Christmas concert or go home early to help them get ready for Halloween.

Don’t be afraid to do what you want to do. Draw those boundaries. Then, know when it is time to focus on personal matters, and forget about work or else you will become resentful of your job, and likely want to throw in the towel.  

Remember, as a senior executive, you have more flexibility and control over your schedule than someone more junior.

Sure, you are busy, but make sure you are using this flexibility to make your career and life work best.

Don’t stunt your career growth here because you are afraid you can’t handle the next level.  

Women in their 40s

Take a breath. You have made it through the craziness of your thirties and all of the changes that have come with that. You are more established in your career.

It is likely that your kids are out of diapers and you are getting more sleep at night. You may be closer to actually owning your home, and you probably even have a nice car or two in your driveway.

This is the time to really get in touch with yourself again. Who are you after all of your life’s changes? What is important to you? How do you want to live your life?

Around the late thirties and forties is the age I find that most people come to me interested in building Mindfulness into our coaching.

First as a way to reduce stress, and then as a tool to help them to rediscover themselves now as a mature adult.

Do this self discovery. Take a look at my Career Coaching to help you figure out your next steps. And then put your hand up for the roles that are going to challenge you. Don’t get tempted to settle.

You still have a long way until retirement so make sure you are leading an area at this point in your career that you love.

Women in their 50s

Take the lead. If you have been working progressively your whole life, you will be ready to take the lead within your organisation. If you are already here, congratulations!

If not, you need to tell the key influencers what you want and continue to build those relationships.  At this point, you have likely gained a great deal of experience and education to support you.

Now it is about promoting yourself (don’t be humble, you’ve got great things to share) and get out there and build relationships. Put yourself out there full force and go for it.

Don’t forget to take care of your health and wellness along the way and manage your stress through mindfulness and exercise.

Women in their 60s

This is a decade of career reflection and celebration. Look back and acknowledge your amazing career. Take the time to share your journey with others.

Put up your hand to mentor others. Think of the legacy you want to leave.

If you haven’t fully accomplished everything you wanted to do, identify an area or two of key focus and put your energy into leaving your organisation a much better place than when you first found it.

Take the time to have conversations with people and ask questions. As much as you have information to share, others also want to share with you. Learning really is a life long process.

 

Carey-Ann Oestreicher (pronounced O-striker) is chief engagement officer for Potential Unlimited, where she works with individuals and companies to help them reach their full potential.  She was honoured with a Top 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Award and was also nominated as one of Canada’s Most Powerful100 Women™. To get in touch with her, e-mail us at editor@leaderonomics.com

Reposted with permission on Leaderonomics.com

Share this :

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Tags
  • CAREY-ANN OESTREICHER
  • fifties
  • forties
  • Leaderonomics
  • sixties
  • thirties
  • Tips
  • twenties
  • women at work
  • women's advice
Next article Why Retreat When We Need To Move Forward?
Previous article How To Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs

Related Posts

11 Great Reasons To Hire Employees With Developmental Disabilities Functional

11 Great Reasons To Hire Employees With Developmental Disabilities

Volunteerism Can Help To Cure Your Stress And Depression Be a Leader

Volunteerism Can Help To Cure Your Stress And Depression

Ignite Brand Love By Getting Your Business Philosophy Right Business

Ignite Brand Love By Getting Your Business Philosophy Right

The Time To Look Beyond Text Is Now Functional

The Time To Look Beyond Text Is Now

Moving Up The Value Chain Business

Moving Up The Value Chain

The First Person You Lead Is Yourself Personal

The First Person You Lead Is Yourself

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Bahasa Malaysia | English

Pick of The Week

Dec 7th 6:47 AM
Functional

The Six Pillars of Vibrant Workplace Culture

Dec 6th 9:08 AM
Leadership

A Lesson in Leadership from the HR Perspective

Dec 5th 9:00 AM
Business

Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Disengaged Employees

NEW – The Leaderonomics Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft7JHfu_PL4

Leaderonomics FM – Now on Spotify/iTunes!

https://leaderonomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Leaderonomics-FM.wav
  • Business
  • Functional
  • Leadership
  • Personal
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • E-Mag
  • Assessments
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Back to top

About Leaderonomics.com

Leaderonomics.com is a leadership portal owned by Leaderonomics, a social enterprise passionate about transforming nations through leadership development. Leaderonomics.com features leadership insights, trends, CEOs, thought leaders, HR leaders and inspiring real-life stories for your personal and professional development.

Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy      
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website are those of the writers or the people they quoted and not necessarily those of Leaderonomics.
[Sitemap | RSS]
Copyright © 2010-2019 Leaderonomics Media Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved