Mid-career crossroads are rarely discussed, yet many professionals find themselves stuck between ambition and uncertainty. Let’s explore the hidden challenges of being ‘in the middle,’ why it happens, and how to find direction with focus and self-belief.
In Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), mid-career professionals often find themselves “operationally indispensable but strategically invisible.” For example:
- Credit Managers & Risk Analysts: While they ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate NPAs, they’re often boxed into execution rather than elevated into strategy roles.
- Investment Professionals: They handle billion-rupee portfolios but aren’t constantly looped into macro-level allocation decisions.
- Insurance & Compliance Leaders: They navigate complex rules but lack sponsorship to move into broader governance or transformation mandates.
Case Example: A mid-level VP at a private bank piloted a credit-risk AI dashboard that reduced loan defaults by 8%. By showcasing it as a strategic business impact rather than an “operational tool,” they secured a promotion into a Chief Risk Officer track role.
The Real Estate/PropTech Lens: Plateaued in Projects, Not in Potential
In Real Estate and PropTech, the mid-career squeeze feels sharper because the industry is consolidating and tech-driven. These include:
- Project Heads & Developers: Stuck between execution and client management, with little say in capital allocation or branding.
- Asset Managers: They monitor performance but often don’t get pulled into ESG conversations or investment decisions.
- Sales Leaders: Despite achieving quotas, they’re viewed as transactional, not transformational.
Case Example: A mid-career Sales Director at a PropTech firm repositioned herself as a Revenue Operations leader, building a data-driven client success dashboard. This reframing landed her a regional leadership role with P&L responsibility.
Tailored 30-60-90 Sprint Plans
For BFSI Professionals:
- Days 1–30: Audit compliance, lending, and credit wins; identify measurable impacts like NPA reduction, regulatory savings, or customer churn.
- Days 31–60: Publish insights on LinkedIn like “3 Ways Digital Lending Will Redefine Risk in 2025” to build executive presence.
- Days 61–90: Pitch a cross-functional compliance + AI project to leadership; tie results to revenue protection.
For Real Estate Professionals:
- Days 1–30: Map achievements in revenue, project timelines, or sustainability.
- Days 31–60: Publish carousels like “ESG: The New Driver of Real Estate Investment” to build thought leadership.
- Days 61–90: Propose a data-driven sales or asset performance initiative, positioning yourself as a future Chief Revenue or Sustainability Officer.
Employer Takeaway
- BFSI firms should create dual tracks—compliance/regulatory specialists and transformation leaders.
- Real Estate companies must allow job crafting around ESG, digital transformation, and data analytics, ensuring mid-career professionals don’t exit for startups or MNCs.
Final Thoughts
The mid-career plateau isn’t an end—it’s a pivot point. Whether you’re in BFSI or Real Estate, your ability to re-scope your role, re-skill with scarce capabilities, and rebrand your executive presence is what turns “stuck” into “strategic.”
At See & Recruit, we help mid-career professionals in BFSI and Real Estate reposition themselves through executive search, salary benchmarking, and career growth strategy consulting.
