Yes old people like boomers and Genx were able to do this however nowadays everyone has advance degrees and internships after college so it's not likely anymore

The one at my company who started as an assistant screwed the boss while he was married and she is now married to him. She's now a VP.

Possible, yes; probable, no.

Anonymous wrote:Worked for a NYC bank in early 1980s full of Ivy types. VP was Horatio Alger - started in the mail room, two night degrees at St. Johns. Acknowledged as one of the smartest people at the bank.

Would probably not happen these days. Believe "they" pretty much know where you are going the day you start.

Started at a F500 company in 1995, and we had multiple people like that, including the CEO and the Chief Counsel. Still with the same company, and it just doesn’t happen anymore. Now all the top jobs go to people from outside and they bring their people to fill the jobs below them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Fortune 200 VP and started there as an admin when I was 21.

Financial industry or other industry?

Other industry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CEO of GM Mary Bara started on the assembly line as her first job.

GM is one of the biggest companies in the world she spent whole career there

And yes husband and kids.

Wasn’t she promoted to this role during the governmentt ownership? I kind of thought of it as affirmative action.

Her Dad was a life long GM employee on assembly line. She worked there in HS and College. The men respect her. She made CEO in Jan 2014.

Her first job in 1980 at GM while in college was checking fender panels and hoods. She rose to VP of Global Engineering, VP HR, EVP Global Product Development. Took her 34 years to move from assembly line to CEO.

It happens but take a look at the leadership of the organization and see the paths of the folks in the C-Suite.

There are a couple of places I've worked where somebody worked their way up but they were small, old school companies. More often (like my current employer) the folks at the top have resumes that show a methodical process of moving from company to company.

My generic advice to young people: you'll know pretty quickly if you are highly valued by you're employer and will be surprised at how quickly they give you new responsibilities and money. It definitely happens!! Mostly, though, the best way to move up is to move from employer to employer. Companies love to have most of their people too afraid to look for a new job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CEO of GM Mary Bara started on the assembly line as her first job.

GM is one of the biggest companies in the world she spent whole career there

And yes husband and kids.

Wasn’t she promoted to this role during the governmentt ownership? I kind of thought of it as affirmative action.

She was named CEO after the government sold the last of its shares, so no.

Anonymous wrote:How does an admin/mailroom/ non-talent/professional-job holder get a job in a talent/professional role? Night school?
Already trained as a professional but given the admin job as probation?

Plenty of people who start in entry level roles have BAs then they get MBAs etc. while working.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roger Goddell started as an intern in the NFL, and then became driver for Pete Rozelle

Not saying he isn't talented, but life is a lot easier if your father was a US Senator.

And his father-in-law was White House Chief of Staff! I had no idea.

How does an admin/mailroom/ non-talent/professional-job holder get a job in a talent/professional role? Night school?
Already trained as a professional but given the admin job as probation?

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Fortune 200 VP and started there as an admin when I was 21.

Financial industry or other industry?

Anonymous wrote:Count how many entry level people there are. Count how many VP+. Divide.

Given how much admin work has been automated and outsourced, at a big enough company I wouldn't be surprised if the number of VPs outnumbers the number of workers in the mail room or the number of receptionists. I also think the days of the mailroom to CEO are long over, but if it was just a numbers game, the odds are better than ever

Anonymous wrote:CEO of GM Mary Bara started on the assembly line as her first job.

GM is one of the biggest companies in the world she spent whole career there

And yes husband and kids.

Wasn’t she promoted to this role during the governmentt ownership? I kind of thought of it as affirmative action.

CEO of GM Mary Bara started on the assembly line as her first job.

GM is one of the biggest companies in the world she spent whole career there

And yes husband and kids.