Any job has a dual nature, which is an indisputable truth. If we say that college graduates have difficulty finding satisfactory jobs due to lack of experience and qualifications, then in fact, those who have worked for a certain number of years and have accumulated considerable experience and qualifications, if they want to adjust their current situation, it's not easy either.
Case01 "Marrying Down" with No Way Out
●Elva, 30 years old, Marketing Manager at an American Consulting Company
After graduating from university, Elva joined this company when it was still very small, with only two people including the administrative director back then. As the business grew over the years, the scale of the company expanded rapidly, and through her own hard work, Elva became one of the key business talents in the company and was promoted to head of the marketing department.
Two years ago, Elva finally married her long-term boyfriend and entered the marital hall. Her husband's work was also busy, and she gradually felt tired of the lifestyle where two-thirds of the year were spent on planes and in hotels.
Elva tried to gradually delegate her work to other subordinates in the department and even hoped to prepare for having a child within one or two years. However, Elva obviously oversimplified the problem, and various actions had little effect. First, there were only three people in the company's marketing department, each with a heavy workload; secondly, as the marketing manager, it was necessary to tightly control the most important customer resources personally. To achieve a comfortable working environment while maintaining a stable position without being surpassed by other subordinates was quite difficult.
Gradually, Elva developed a desire to leave the workplace. The internal transfer involved too complex departmental relationships, although it didn't require business trips but brought other troubles. Therefore, Elva started considering changing to another company. "Even if the income is lower, doing some simple behind-the-scenes consulting and analysis work without involving sales operations would be fine. High income certainly means high expenditure. These years, my heart has been too tired." Elva calculated in her mind.
Elva originally thought that with her rich work experience, finding a suitable job wouldn't be difficult. But she found that reality was not like that. One reason was that the industry circle wasn't large, basically everyone knew each other, and most companies either avoided hiring Elva out of politeness or considered her reasons for job-hopping and used various excuses to decline. Another reason was that even though she mentally prepared herself, when there was actually an opportunity for Elva to switch jobs and accept a lower position and salary, she hesitated.
Analysis: Doubts Must Be Faced
As someone who has grown into a senior position or achieved significant work success, giving up past growth experiences and being forced to take a lower position, in a sense, is a waste for both oneself and societal resources. Moreover, sometimes mutually agreeable "marrying down," according to the common sense of "people moving upward, water flowing downward," employers often question and speculate about the reasons for "marrying down." At the same time, the company will doubt whether the job seeker can be content with a position that doesn't match their qualifications.
At this point, how to make the employer trust you and be willing to pay for your career transition is what the job seeker truly needs to do. If qualifications remain a burden, then starting to look for a position that truly suits you is the right approach.
Case02: Not Easy to Start a Business
●Mr. Lin, 35 years old, Middle Management at a French Manufacturing Company
The relationship between the Chinese and foreign senior management in Mr. Lin’s company is complex. And as Mr. Lin, whose direct superior is Chinese and the relevant department's indirect superior is a foreigner, he often finds himself caught in such personnel...
(Note: The original text seems to cut off abruptly, so the translation follows suit.)