As a young, dedicated professional in today’s corporate climate, I wake up every morning at 7 a.m. rushing and sweating to get ready for my work day.

Jumping out of bed, racing the clock and barely cramming in a slice of [fill in the blank here...], I begin an unpredictable workday that initially started out as 9 to 5. Many of my days end up being 14 hour workdays with no benefits. Although this anecdote might come off as overly personal, its intent is to speak to all of those who lead a similar post-bac lifestyle.

While I certainly cannot complain about having a job, it is a well known fact that it is not the career for which I have been aspiring up until now nor for which I am destined. Like many other young, perhaps non-majority professionals, I often feel as if I fill a space or better yet, a quota. I generally call this the “moving from one statistic to the next” dilemma. Yes, some of us have escaped the percentages of America’s infamous minority-filled statistical reports but, where have we gone? –hopefully not to another quota-filling bracket of companies who boast their commitment to diversity.

Several of my peers complain of a similar day-to-day routine that they only continue for the sake of making ends meet. While this certainly isn’t a negative thing, it is important to continue to work towards better fulfilling one’s dreams of making it to the next step.

I do take advantage of the position that I am in to the utmost degree even at the company I currently work for. Instead of resting comfortably in my cubicle chair everyday, I seek opportunities for advancement both internally and externally. I utilize every possible resource available to move ahead or move out in a business where I only see the possibility of horizontal mobility.

Staying in a rut or just in a job that you may not like is never the answer. Steadily moving forward through on-the-job research, networking, lunch break interviews and being proactive in your approach to a career change, IS.