How quickly can I move up the ladder in a typical geoscience job?
In part, your upward mobility depends on the employment sector you select. In the petroleum industry and most private-sector positions, early advancement in rank can be expected every 2-3 years for your first 10-15 years of employment. As in most cases, as you advance up the ladder in later years, there are fewer opportunities for promotions. However, the downsizing and restructuring of industry and government have removed many layers of management. In many organizations, the “ladder” is not what it used to be. You need to do some self-discovery to find out whether or not management is the area to which you aspire. Many companies have salary structures designed to compensate increased value of technical professionals somewhat parallel to the management ladder. You will find that you are expected to increase your values and influence in the organization continuously throughout your career. Becoming a supervisor/manager/executive is one strategy or pathway to increased influence. Becomin
