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Processed with VS1Talk about career progress without losing sight of the people around you.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptA career or corporate ladder is an image of the levels someone may move through at work. To “climb the ladder” or “get ahead” is to progress toward a higher position. The story balances ambition with cooperation: moving up can be positive, but treating coworkers as obstacles is different from reaching back to help others.
Cultural note: Career paths are not the same for everyone, and upward promotion is not the only measure of success. “Climbing the corporate ladder” emphasizes rank in an organization; “get ahead” is broader. The source’s contrast is ethical: ambition need not require pushing other people down.
Keep exploringA ladder makes progress look like one person moving upward, but real careers also depend on people who share a rung or offer a hand.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe professional development and higher responsibility.
Meaning
Progress through increasingly responsible or senior jobs.
Tone & use
Common in work contexts; it emphasizes movement through levels, not necessarily one specific promotion.
Example
“She took a project-management course to help her climb the career ladder.”
Meaning
The levels of jobs and authority within a company.
Tone & use
Use for an organization with a hierarchy; it can sound focused on rank or promotion.
Example
“He decided the corporate ladder was less important than a flexible schedule.”
Talk about motivation and career goals.
Meaning
Make progress or become more successful, especially at work.
Tone & use
Broad and common; the surrounding context tells what kind of progress is meant.
Example
“She volunteered to lead a small project because she wanted to get ahead.”
Describe cooperation rather than rivalry.
Meaning
Use your experience or position to support someone with fewer advantages.
Tone & use
A figurative image of generosity; it contrasts with harming others to advance.
Example
“After her promotion, she reached down and helped a junior colleague prepare for interviews.”
Meaning
Treat or harm other people in order to achieve your own goals.
Tone & use
Critical; it describes selfish competition, not ordinary ambition.
Example
“He wanted to advance without stepping on others or taking credit for their work.”
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