Dear CareerBabe:

I have been in an entry-level clerical position with the federal government for more than 8 years. I have an MS in criminal justice yet am unable to find employment as a criminal investigator. What I do find are lots of rejection notices and nary an interview. I have the education for an advanced position but cannot apply for them due to civil service regulations and instead must climb the career ladder. Problem is, I have been turned down 17 times for promotion just where I work now! The longer I languish in this entry-level position, I am concerned that potential employers will wonder why I have never been able to advance and thus ignore my awards, accomplishments and educational background. What should I do? I don't want to try another career field because if I can't find advanced employment with the education I have now, how can I expect to do better in a DIFFERENT field with NO EXPERIENCE in it?

Dear Passed Over:

If someone has turned you down 17 times and you remain in an entry-level position for 8 years, there is a BIG problem! You need to ask yourself NOW: what am I doing myself that is keeping me in this trap? Why have I been passed over? Is it my background? My attitude? The organization? There is some critical piece of information here that you need to pay attention to, right now! I am going to suggest two things: you meet with your boss and the equivalent of HR (Human Resources) and ask: "What do I need to do to be promoted?" And you execute that plan. If there is no plan, then by saying you will not try a new field because you have not been successful in this one", you are really shooting yourself in the foot. First, you need to see that you appear to be behaving in perhaps unproductive ways and then you need to move yourself along.

Best of Luck!