Research reveals more women are moving companies to swerve career limitations. Experts advise how to navigate feeling stuck in your job and progress upwards in your career.
New research reveals that more than half of women (54%) employed in the UK believe their employer isn’t providing them with enough opportunities for career progression. As working from home has become more permanent over the last year, women are now four times as likely than men to feel their career has stagnated.
In an effort to work around this career roadblock and break the glass ceiling, the study shows that women are responding by moving companies — one in three women started new jobs in the last year compared to less than one in five men.
The new research found that women are increasingly looking for higher pay (53%), better work-life balance (51%) and more constructive feedback from management (34%).
The ‘UK Employee Support and Retention Survey’ was conducted by virtual events and in-person team building company Wildgoose. It asked employees from 133 UK companies about their onboarding experience at their new company, what current or previous employers could do better to retain their employees, and which workplace pressures affected retention over the last year.
The survey comes after experts warned in recent reports that home and hybrid working models could lead to increasing gender inequality in the workplace.
The improvement most desired amongst women was more opportunity to progress, in contrast to the priorities of male employees, for whom this didn’t make the top three. The study found men are more likely to want increased pay (67%) and for employers to address excessive stress issues at work (33%).
For those who are still navigating how to bypass the glass ceiling within a flexible working setup, Wildgoose has spoken to:
- Jay Rai, qualified therapist and empowerment psychologist
- Sarah Fitton, career coach at Coach Me to Success
- Priscilla Oshunremi, founder of women’s network The ConveHERsation
- Jasmine Mbye, founder of The Like Me CIC, a not-for-profit that aims to empower women and teen girls to develop confidence in their professional life
Expert advice for when you feel stagnant in your career
Jay says:
“An important first step is to become aware where the glass ceilings exist within your organisation. Don’t be afraid to raise your concerns, because by speaking up you’re likely to recruit important allies. However, do be patient, because breaking through glass ceilings does take time.
It can be super helpful to share what you’re feeling with trusted friends or mentors to reassure yourself that you’re not alone. Tapping into people who have more experience can tell you that what you’re feeling is normal, and just knowing others have been in your position can make it seem less scary.
Do also consider people from other industries and at different stages of their careers among those you can learn from and seek advice from. These cheerleaders are there for the challenging times, but they also give you a sense of perspective.”
Sarah advises:
“It’s worth knowing how you’re perceived by others. Particularly those who are in a good position to champion you, and those who will be decision-makers for any promotional opportunities (or those whose views might influence them one way or another!). Seek feedback to determine which of your strengths and values are already recognised, and where you need to focus your efforts, either in terms of development or simply being more visible.
Ask where there might be opportunities to step up and show that you’re capable of operating at a higher level. Are there meetings you could sit in on? Or even meetings where you can raise your profile and expose your talents to stakeholders you wouldn’t usually interact with.”
Priscilla says:
“Women have been nurtured to feel like we have to be defined by everything we do all at once: our femininity, our career, our manner, our appearance, how we talk, and what we think. We feel the judgement very differently to how men do and it’s overwhelming. You start doubting that you deserve to be who you are, doubting your abilities. Learning to navigate through fears and realities is scary but essential to moving forward in life.”
Jasmine says:
“Focus on what you can change, whilst accepting what you don’t seem to have the power to change presently. If, however, you find yourself unable to accept that, then that means you’re compelled to find a way to stimulate change. This will ultimately mean stepping way out of your comfort zone and making others uncomfortable too – by challenging the status quo.”
About Wildgoose:
Wildgoose are leaders in the events industry, delivering a wide range of corporate team building and social team events across the globe. Since launching in 2011, over 750 companies across 23 countries have benefited from Wildgoose’s creative approach to inspiring workforces.
The innovative brand prides itself on creating engaging and interactive challenges, and during recent months, it has refocused its offering to reflect the changing needs of businesses as they work remotely during lockdowns. By developing a brand-new set of virtual team building products, Wildgoose has been able to keep people motivated and connected at a time when team building is more important than ever.
