The Mid-Career Trap And How to Avoid It

Mid-career can be a dangerous place — you might become too expensive for the roles you can perform, and unwilling to take the roles you can get.

This happens because aging is mandatory, but upskilling is optional.

As we become older (‘senior’), in many organisations, promotions and salary hikes come by default — at least for a while. And as long as your skills and capabilities also keep going up at a comparable pace, there is no problem.

But if your ability to deliver value starts lagging your salary, it should set alarm bells ringing. Because, God forbid, what if your company eliminates your role or asks you to justify your role or salary?

So what’s the way out?

Here is a test I propose: Every year, ask yourself — “If I were a freelancer, could I earn as much as my current salary (or more)?” If you pass this ‘freelancer test’, you are fine.

Make investing in yourself your number one priority — not just technical skills but also people skills, personal brand, network, etc.

The coming years will be more and more unforgiving and the no-man’s land will not be a pretty place.

If you can survive without your company’s business card, you can survive even an ice age. Be prepared for that ice age.

– Rajan