No matter what your age might be, the chances are that you have heard the term “glass ceiling” at least once in your lifetime. The term “glass ceiling” is the invisible unbreakable barrier that unfortunately keeps women and minority groups from being able to climb up the proverbial corporate ladder. Even if they possess the best possible qualifications for the job, they will more than likely be passed over.
Even though you may see that women and minorities have the ability to gain ground in the corporate world, there are still always a number of situations where someone will be passed over for better wages, a new title or position simply because they are female or part of a minority sector.
It goes without saying that this is unethical for any employer to do, yet it happens all of the time regardless of social climate or economic standing. A job should never be given depending on an individual’s race, gender or many other personal factors. However, there are still even instances where a potential employee will be asked questions pertaining to their marital status, whether or not they have children or even if they are someone who needs to care for elderly relatives within the home as these can all be things that could keep them from having the ability to be at work on time.
The majority of divorced women will have physical custody of their children and quite often you will see that a woman will play the major role of a caregiver to elderly relatives. Juggling work in these types of situations can prove to be difficult. Unfortunately, the glass ceiling is in full effect most times once a potential employer finds out that these factors are in play.
How To Break The Glass Ceiling
If you feel as though you are subject to the glass ceiling or you have been in the past, there are a few things that you can look into to try and break through it.
Investigate
Do a good bit of research on any sort of company that you are thinking of applying with. Find out if the company is worker friendly regardless of background, marital status, race or gender. If at all possible, see if you can get information from others who are currently employed with the company so that you can get a good idea of the company as a whole.
Educate Yourself
Breaking the glass ceiling will mean having a better understanding of what is law and what should never be done when it comes to passing over someone for a job simply because of gender, race or other factors. There are actually a lot of support groups, forums and blogs that can be very helpful in the area of employment for women and minorities.
Adopt an “I Can” Attitude
Women with the “I can” attitude are more successful than women who think “they can’t”. Adopting a positive attitude can be tough at times, but try to nip any negative “I can’t” thoughts in the bud as soon as they happen. Keep at it actively and persistently and you will feel stronger and more positive!
Take Action
Show your boss that you have what it takes to be in charge by taking charge. Don’t wait around for people telling you what to do or offering you the top job. Figure out what needs to be done and take action.
Take Risks
Staying within your comfort zone is easy, stepping out of it: not so much! After all, you might risk failure, which scares most of us. However, taking risks will help you grow professionally and personally, so it’s worth doing it. Make risk-taking easier for yourself by changing your attitude towards failure and drawing lessons from failure. Use the knowledge you gained from failing for your next successful attempt and avoid missing out on wonderful opportunities!
Develop and Leverage a Support Network
Having a support network is essential for success. Find your support network in co-workers and people in senior management in areas you are not skilled in (yet). Successful networking is achieved by creating relationships, adding value and making yourself available when the need arises.
