A recent article in the New York Times points out that the career ladder doesn't always go straight up. "The idea of a lattice describes modern career growth more aptly," according to one expert. So when might you want to go backwards, or even accept a pay cut?




• To move to a bigger company, you may have to accept a lower position. It's not uncommon for an editor-in-chief of a local alternative magazine to take a senior editor or even associate editor position at a larger consumer title.




• To move quickly to a higher-level position, try a smaller company, but be prepared for a pay cut. Because smaller magazines usually have smaller budgets to match, they can't always attract the more seasoned professionals. This means they're often great training grounds for eager young things looking to punch above their weight, or experience level.




• To gain new skills for the future, you may need to take a lower position. Are you a senior editor on the print side with the desire to work on the web team but have no on-the-job web editing experience? You'll have a tough go of it if you aim for a senior web editor position, but associate web editor may be within your grasp.


The overall lesson is to take a look at where you want to be down the road and equip yourself with the skills and experience that will get you there.