See when you're fresh out of college, prospective employers look at your grades, resume etc. This is probably going to be the only time in your life that you'll be hired purely on merit -- your internships, grades yada yada.
If you're in a creative industry like tech you'll be making inroads in your career based on your adaptability and the tech skills you pick up along the way.
However, if you're a rookie in finance, accounting or management consulting and are working for a big investment bank, consulting firm or even a government agency you'll make manager in about three to four years and then you'll see yourself stuck in a rut for a longer time with a bunch of other managers.
But then, here's the sad part, you'll see one or two incompetent managers sail by you and get promoted to managing director or even partner. How'd they do it ?
Well, it's the time-honored tradition of being discrete, politicking and making your boss (yes 'boss' not your client) look good. Now here's the magic that I'm sharing with you -- listen and learn... (skip to 0:26)