Dear CareerBabe:

When working for a start up company, how do you know if the job is worth waiting it out to see if it will sink or swim? Background: I'm 22, working for my employer for almost 2 years. Although I am paid as the Receptionist, I wear multiple hats and am the Receptionist, Office Administrator, and the travel agent. The company is very laid back, no set procedures, everyone has multiple roles and follows different rules or no rules at all. I feel like I'm not really learning anything and I need to be constantly challenged.

While I feel like the company's goals are very good ones and if they can make it work, there is a very good chance that the company will expand and hopefully I would move up in the company. What do you think?

Dear Risky:

Working for any start-up can be risky because usually a start-up may be underfunded and not producing revenues for a long period of time. It is really excellent that the company has hired people who can fulfill multiple roles at the same time and that they have been in business for at least two years. The longer they are in business, the better their changes to succeed.

I am a little concerned about your particular analysis for two reasons: you don't seem to know how the company is doing financially and whether they are in the black (making money) or in the red (losing money) every month. I am also concerned because you say you want to be challenged but you find yourself in a receptionist's job for 2 years without going anywhere. Have you taken any courses over the past 2 years that would make you more marketable? What internships have you applied for? What professional organizations do you belong to?

Ms. RB, you are learning a key lesson here for professional advancement that should last your whole life long: Career progress depends on you - not your employer. When you say "If the company can make it work," I worry about you because you are not saying "I can get new skills under my belt and make my career go somewhere." Remember: You - not the company - are your own "fairy godmother"!

I have a suggestion: Why not put a career plan in place for yourself and present it to your boss and say: "I really like this company and I want to talk to you about my own career goals and see they make sense for this company. I would really like to do the (name of job) role here, which is a much needed function as the company grows." I would like to take courses and map a job path to help get me there. What do you think?"

If your boss is positive, find out if the company has an education-reimbursement program? If so, start using those benefits right away. If your boss is not positive, go immediately to a good career counselor and start working on your resume and your path immediately!

Best of Luck!