climb the career ladder
/klaɪm ðə kəˈrɪər ˈlædər/
Meaning
To make progress in your career by moving up to higher, more senior positions within a company or profession. It implies ambition, hard work, and a step-by-step progression over time.
Examples
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She worked hard for ten years to climb the career ladder.
She worked hard for ten years to climb the career ladder.
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Many young professionals are eager to climb the career ladder quickly.
Many young professionals are eager to climb the career ladder quickly.
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He realized that staying at the same company wasn't helping him climb the career ladder.
He realized that staying at the same company wasn't helping him climb the career ladder.
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To climb the career ladder, you need to develop strong leadership skills.
To climb the career ladder, you need to develop strong leadership skills.
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She decided to change industries, even if it meant starting over to climb the career ladder.
She decided to change industries, even if it meant starting over to climb the career ladder.
Common Mistakes
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✗ He wants to climb the career stairs.
✓ He wants to climb the career ladder.
The metaphor uses 'ladder' (representing vertical steps or rungs), not 'stairs' or 'steps'.
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✗ She climbed up the career ladder.
✓ She climbed the career ladder.
While 'climbed up' is grammatically correct, the standard collocation is simply 'climb the career ladder' without 'up'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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If you want to ___, you need to take on more responsibility.
💡 Advance to higher positions at work.
Show answer
climb the career ladder
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She is highly ambitious and determined to ___ as fast as possible.
💡 Progress to senior roles.
Show answer
climb the career ladder