stepping stone
Interim advancement aid
A stepping stone is a flat stone placed in water or mud to step on while crossing.
By extension, it's any intermediate position or experience that helps you reach a larger goal: She saw the internship as a stepping stone to a full-time job.
The emphasis is on movement toward something better rather than staying put.
Rocket departure platform
chance · entry point · inroad · access · threshold · platform · avenue · ticket
Forward movement or promotion
- footholdStable position for advancement
- rungLadder's horizontal step
- stageRaised performance platform
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
level · increment · gradation · building block · foundation · benchmark · checkpoint · waypoint
Rank increase or publicity
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- entry-levelRequiring minimal prior experience
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
mentorship · first job · residency · fellowship · foot in the door · proving ground · learning experience · lateral move
Structure spanning an obstacle
- linkPoint of connection
- connectorThing that joins others
- transition pointWhere one phase ends
- waystationIntermediate stopping point
stopover · midpoint · halfway point · go-between · conduit · channel · means to an end · placeholder
Walkable river crossing
- creek crossingTraversing a small stream
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- walkwayPath for foot traffic
- garden pathPaved way through plantings
flagstone · paver · boulder · waterway · footbridge
launchpad
Rocket departure platform
break · chance · entry point · inroad · access · threshold · platform · avenue · ticket · foothold
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
phase · level · increment · gradation · building block · foundation · benchmark · checkpoint · waypoint · marker
promotion
Rank increase or publicity
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- entry-levelRequiring minimal prior experience
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
training · mentorship · first job · residency · fellowship · foot in the door · proving ground · learning experience · lateral move
bridge
Structure spanning an obstacle
- linkPoint of connection
- connectorThing that joins others
- transition pointWhere one phase ends
waystation · stopover · midpoint · halfway point · go-between · conduit · channel · means to an end · placeholder
ford
Walkable river crossing
- creek crossingTraversing a small stream
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- walkwayPath for foot traffic
garden path · flagstone · paver · boulder · waterway · footbridge
- gardenbed, seeds, bloom, blossom, compost
- workjob, 9 to 5, jobs, labor, employee
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- Career Advancementjob promotion, advancement, moving up, upward mobility, career ladder
- park featurespark bench, bench, benches, trail, trails
- stonesboulder, pebble, cobblestone, flagstone, cobble
stepping stonedestination
Intended arrival point
ultimate goal · finish line · end point · culmination · pinnacle
stepping stonestumbling block
Obstacle causing difficulty
obstacle · barrier · roadblock · impediment · hindrance
stepping stonecareer
Lifelong occupational pursuit
life's work · calling · vocation · permanent position · forever home
stone, stony, footstep, milestone, cornerstone, stepping, stepped, stoneware, springboard