Q. I’m ready to take the next step in my career and therefore have been looking for a new job over the past several months. A close friend of mine thinks I may be pursuing jobs that are too far out of my league, but I want to stretch myself. Any advice? Submitted by Darrell Etgar, Chattanooga, TN

For aggressive and confident career-minded adults like yourself, the pursuit of the next rung in the corporate ladder means landing an opportunity that stretches your abilities, and at the same time, your pocketbook. While it is possible to land a job that you can “grow into,” you should be wary of the potential pitfalls of seeking a stretch job that in the end may be out of your league. Here are some things to consider:

• Is it a stretch or a breaking point?
  Your first step is to evaluate whether a potential job is just enough of a stretch or way out of your league. If the position you are seeking is going to require skills you don’t have, determine a realistic timeframe of your learning curve.Will you be able to acquire the needed skills to be successful within 30 days? 60 days? Are there training classes you can take or friends willing to mentor you in order to speed up the learning curve? If the skills you’ll need to turn in a stellar performance can’t be mastered within 30 days, then chances are the position is out of your league.

• Stretching the truth on your resume means you’re stretching too far.
  Another glaring sign that indicates you’re seeking a job that’s out of your league is stretching the truth on your resume. If your resume is filled with little “white lies” that embellish your experience and abilities, you’re likely headed for disaster.In fact, your dreams could get squashed before you even land the job. For example, you may have listed a technical skill on your resume that in reality, you’ve only dabbled in, only to be surprised with an assessment test during your interview.

• Start stretching before you leap.
  If you’re even considering looking for a stretch opportunity, it’s safe to assume you aren’t growing or being challenged in your current role. But before you trade in your old job for a more stimulating one, identify any gaps between your current skill set and what will be required at more advanced-level positions.Are there gaps you can begin to close while you are still on the job? For example, if you are seeking a management position but don’t have any experience supervising others, consider volunteering to lead a committee or hire an intern. While not formal managerial functions, they will give you a chance to better prepare yourself to take on a supervisory role, and serve as examples to reference during your pursuit for the stretch role.

Before you find yourself in a situation where you go to work every day on pins and needles, wondering when your colleagues or boss will “find you out,” make sure you’ve truly evaluated whether that dream job is an achievable stretch or one that will stretch you to the breaking point.

Good luck!

Seymour