Invisible barriers in women’s careers – how to spot and overcome them?

A career path can sometimes resemble a maze. We seem to be heading towards our goal, but every now and then we encounter unexpected obstacles. Women in particular often have to face barriers that we do not even notice at first, but which become painfully apparent over time. Let’s take a look at three key phenomena that can hinder our professional development.

The glass ceiling – an invisible, tangible barrier

Imagine that you are climbing the career ladder. You are doing everything according to plan – gaining experience, improving your qualifications, achieving success. And yet, at some point, you stop in front of an invisible barrier. You can see higher positions, but you cannot reach them. This is the glass ceiling – a phenomenon that makes it much more difficult for women, despite their competence and commitment, to reach the highest levels of management. They are overlooked, not treated equally to their male colleagues and their chances are minimised.