For aggressive, confident career-minded adults the climb to the next rung on the corporate ladder may mean landing an opportunity that stretches your abilities and perhaps, at the same time, your income. While it is possible to land a job that you can “grow into,” job seekers should beware the potential pitfalls of seeking a stretch job that—in the end—may stretch you to your breaking point.

Will it stretch you, or break you?
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 for your learning curve. Will you be able to acquire the needed skills to be successful within 30 days? Sixty days? Are there training classes you can take or friends willing to mentor you in order to shorten the learning curve? If the skills you’ll need to turn in a stellar performance can’t be mastered within 30 or 60 days, then chances are the position is out of your league.

Stretching the truth on your resume means you’re stretching too far.
Another sure sign that 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.

If you feel you have the ability to quickly master a required skill, reference this and any supporting evidence—such as your technical savvy or aptitude—in your cover letter or objective. Hiring managers will appreciate your honesty, confidence and willingness to learn. Remember, most seasoned hiring managers are proficient at spotting half-truths in resumes, so don’t get disqualified before you’ve even entered the race.

Start stretching before you leap.
If you’re even considering looking for a stretch opportunity, it may be because 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 of 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.