The Job Above You May Not Exist Anymore

You may be preparing for a promotion that no longer exists. Not because someone else received it—but because the organization quietly removed the role. When a senior employee leaves, companies don’t always replace them. The responsibilities may be divided, decisions may move upward, and what was supposed to be temporary can quietly become permanent. The work remains. But the position disappears. In this video, I explain: • why organizations don’t preserve career ladders • how vacancies allow companies to test whether a role is still necessary • the warning signs that a position or organizational layer is disappearing • why becoming more qualified won’t help if the seat itself is gone • how to build your career around problems you can own instead of one expected title • what real career mobility looks like when organizational structures keep changing Being ready for the next job isn’t enough. You also need to know whether that job still exists—and what other routes could move your career forward. CHAPTERS 0:00 You May Be Waiting for a Job That’s Disappeared 0:55 Organizations Don’t Protect Career Ladders 2:40 What a Disappearing Rung Looks Like 3:58 Stop Preparing for One Title 5:08 Your Future Can’t Depend on an Empty Chair I’m Tomas Schmidt. I spent more than three decades inside organizations as an executive. What I learned from the inside is what I share on this channel. If that’s useful to you, subscribe. #MidCareer #CareerAdvice #CareerGrowth