Careerist

A careerist is an individual primarily motivated by the pursuit of professional advancement, power, and prestige within their chosen field or organization. Their actions and decisions often revolve around achieving upward mobility, often at the potential expense of other considerations such as personal relationships, ethical principles, or the collective good. Careerists are typically highly ambitious, strategically minded, and adept at networking and navigating organizational politics. Their focus is relentlessly on self-promotion, building alliances, and exploiting opportunities that contribute to their individual career trajectory, sometimes seen as ruthless. They prioritize tangible rewards, promotions, and recognition over inherent satisfaction or broader contributions to society.

Careerist meaning with examples

• Sarah, a blatant careerist, meticulously crafted her image, prioritizing networking events and leveraging her boss's vulnerabilities to secure promotions. She consistently took credit for team achievements, fostering a climate of mistrust. While undeniably successful in climbing the corporate ladder, her lack of empathy and collaborative spirit alienated many colleagues. Her drive, however, allowed her to climb from entry level to management within 5 years.
• Driven by ambition, John saw his colleagues as mere stepping stones on his journey to success. He adeptly maneuvered through internal politics, tailoring his opinions and actions to curry favor with superiors. His relentless pursuit of promotions left a trail of disgruntled former teammates. John's rise in the company came at the expense of the team. He was promoted to a senior position with a much larger budget.
• The political landscape was teeming with careerists, individuals who switched parties at opportune moments, and tailored their policies to gain popular support. Their primary goal was to maintain power. They leveraged any opportunity. Their focus remained on securing public office over promoting genuine change. They manipulated their rhetoric based on the changing political landscape and polls.
• After receiving a massive bonus and being promoted to Vice President, the careerist in Michael never gave anyone the chance to even talk to him unless they could offer something, leading to complete isolation from his coworkers. His lack of any desire for human interaction except at a superficial level, or if there was something he could get from the person caused him great stress. He never showed any interest in building genuine relationships.
• In Hollywood, the producer was a classic careerist, shamelessly using his position to cultivate relationships with stars and directors for his benefit. He leveraged projects with promising box office potential. The art of the film was secondary to his ultimate goal, which was to establish himself as a power player. He routinely took credit for the work of others to propel his career forward.