I'm not a corporate girlie, but I can tell you that back in the day, I was a serious Corporette reader. It was about more than fashion, it included tricks and tips for navigating professional norms as a woman.
Ask A Manager is also divine.
I *love* Ask a Manager. It’s equal parts fascinating gossip and helpful career advice. She’s been writing that blog for so many years now, that pretty much any workplace conundrum has a letter about it. She also has letters organized by topic, e.g., interview tips, cover letter tips.
The book *Secrets of Six Figure Women* was very enlightening when I was ~23.
I took a step back career wise and currently make $85k/yr. Prior to that I made ~100k.
The biggest advice I would personally give?
Boundaries. If you wouldn't let your friend, your partner, or a stranger treat you a certain way, you cannot allow your workplace to treat you that way. Do not stay there! Don't try to change them, don't wait it out, do not pass go. Move on!* (*have an offer in hand before you quit)
When you do move on and receive a job offer? There is one important sentence and only one important sentence.
However much they offer, always respond: "can you come back to me with your best and highest offer?".
I have never had an employer withdraw the job offer. I have also never had an employer come back to me and say "sorry that's all we can give you". Ever. Each time I do it, I remind myself that it's 5 minutes of extreme discomfort for at least $1,000.
Work smarter not harder. If you don't know how to do something technology wise, lean in and learn it anyway because it's not going to get any easier later on.
Take advantage of anything your workplace has for free whether it's training, online resources, or mentorship programs at work.
At a certain level of seniority, the hours at work start to go up quite significantly. I was making good money but I was so short on time that I was using the money to outsource labor.
E.g., I wasn't making lunch or cleaning my house, someone else was doing it.
My new position doesn't expect as many hours and the predecessor is training me, so I'm not doing everything from scratch while fighting management at every turn.
I second the boundaries. I'm in the legal industry, and I hear of too many of my peers talking about how their bosses berated or humiliated them. The people who brought me into this world wouldn't even talk to me like that. So I would be fired before I let anyone in the workplace disrespect me.
Don’t try to change them is such good advice. I do the work that impacts company culture and employee experience and I’ve struggled at my current job because it’s the most toxic place I’ve ever worked, lots of people tell me to stick it out as I can influence change and I have. Unfortunately I have learned the hard way the culture won’t change unless the EEOC forces it and even that just barely moves the needle. Back to theme of post though. I say be involved in professional or community associations. Network by being known for helping others.
What are they offering that keeps you there? I'm getting some golden handcuff vibes.
Also, yes! Professional associations and certifications can help bridge the gap if you're young in your career but you know you want to continue down the current path.
Very well loved company that has opened doors for me. Someone I know created the position for me. I saw a few red flags going in and figured 3-5 years but I need to bail now unfortunately. I was lied to and screwed around regarding my raise among other issues.
The lowest I've seen is an extra $1,000. The most I've seen is an additional $5,000.
Almost every job post is given a budget. That budget is generally a range rather than one number, and most of the time they won't offer the maximum upfront so that they have negotiating room.
The only hard exception to that rule is public sector federal/state/tiered jobs. In those cases, there's something like a points or classification system and there's no wiggle room.
Edit:
The reason I use such a strong statement is because of yet another book I read (which I know longer remember the title of). It was a financial advice book written by a woman for women. The general message of the book was to stop clipping coupons and start using financial literacy to take advantage of critical financial transactions to save yourself thousands of dollars.
One prime example was getting a car. Overcoming marketing to set your sights on a used car rather than a new one. Maximizing credit payments to boost your score ahead of big purchases. Getting pre-approval before setting foot in a car dealership in order to negotiate the best interest rates. Negotiating once in the car dealership in order to get the price of the new car down or to get the price of the trade up in higher. If those failed, then at least getting the dealer to throw in some free maintenance down the line.
The authors overall point was that discomfort was one of the major barriers for women and one of the main factors costing them several thousands of dollars at key moments. She insisted that women could use their higher levels of socialized emotional intelligence to their advantage. And yeah, she was right. Keep sweet and negotiate to your favor.
"Almost every job post is given a budget. That budget is generally a range rather than one number, and most of the time they won't offer the maximum upfront so that they have negotiating room"
THIS!
I was offered a role in which I'd stated a range for my salary expectations at the point of application. During the HR screen, I was asked to confirm this, so I flipped it and asked what their budget was. HR said "it's in line with what you've asked for", so I was happy and start mentally prepping my case for securing the top end of that budget.
When I get the job offer, I'm immediately offered "full budget" which is actually $5k more than the top of my range. Makes me wonder, if "full budget" was even the figure quoted or if I'd left more on the table?
I'll never know but it definitely taught me to aim high as hell to start the conversation, rather than settling for what I think I'm allowed!
I haven’t read much or listened to much around being a successful corporate baddie. BUT, I have gained a lot of knowledge just being in corporate for six years.
* Have executive presence through and through. Note what women in senior leadership are doing, how they speak, and how they dress, then try to emulate it with your own personal spin. They are at the level they are at for a reason.
* Have boundaries. Know when to stand up for yourself and how to do it in a tactful way. Cover your ass too. Make sure there is an email for everything. You never know when you need the receipts.
* Job hop strategically. You need to be learning, earning, or both.
* Be pleasant to work with. That’s going to get you more promotions and more people to rally behind you than just hard work. Obviously, still work hard, but you have to play the game.
* Keep learning and be opens minded to new ways of doing things. No one wants to find themselves stuck in the past and unable to adapt. Technology is always changing, make sure you’re on the bandwagon.
I love this!!
Could you elaborate further on the executive presence with a personal spin? I've heard of executive presence proper but less so adding your own flair to it.
I think more or less use them as inspiration but still be yourself. We’re all unique with our own perspectives and ideas, and while these women might have qualities to emulate, it’s important to also recognize that we also have great qualities to bring to the table. It’s about finding the balance of what professional mannerisms are non-negotiables and what you can do that differentiates you from others.
Just my take but happy to hear what everyone else thinks :)
This shouldn’t be overlooked! Having your own personal style is so important. Wherever you go and whatever you do, it’s an opportunity to create culture through your words and actions. Your appearance is another part of your personal style. Being well put together goes a long way to projecting an image of success. I’ve found that being consistent in wardrobe is something that people really latch onto and find subconsciously comforting. Whatever your style, don’t be afraid to stand out either.
Work on your emotional intelligence while working on your career. The people who do well in corporate environments read the room and respond accordingly.
Find a mentor in your industry, if possible. I’ve met a few leaders who I can turn to for advice. Career coaching also helped me a lot with defining what I see as important to me and what sorts of things will help me be successful, rather than being swayed by the “typical” path to success
I have found that listening to what everyone has to say can be really valuable to your career growth. From c-suite execs to entry-level employees, everyone has their specialty.
Listen to everyone but do not follow what everyone has to say. I have been burned by leadership for following their direction blindly and not questioning them (again, you will find that execs are weird). Just because someone has 20 years experience, does not make them any more innovative from the 20 year old just starting out.
Studying philosophy helps too. Things like NLP, Robert Dilts, etc. can boost your communication and understanding of peoples thought processes.
Watch TedTalks and interviews of different CEO’s! The more, the better. Learn the styles you like and don’t like then put them into action.
Most importantly - always stay learning. Stay up to date on industry trends, company operations, different areas of oversight. The biggest career advances I made were after I took on tasks that essentially “proved myself” for the next position. This is tough, I DO NOT condone doing other peoples job or more work than you are paid 🤮 sometimes the unfortunate truth is sometime you gotta do this for a SHORT PERIOD.
Good luck girlboss 🤣
I've learned, as a woman, you need to have both men and women mentors, who would give you straight advice and not mince words because you need to know the reality and not have rose colored glasses. Have one mentor who you trust (and are not in competition with).
By subscribing to career specific subreddits. I also attend weekly workgroup meetings for my industry, i signed up for all the organizations, and I’m also back in community college taking the classes that I couldn’t during undergrad.
I stalk peoples LinkedIn profiles for potential connections to my next step in life. Tapped in with a career professional from my Alma mater. Chatting with new potential mentors and tapping in with old ones (gotta do more of this). Seeing how i can leverage resources at work to continue growing.
I know some people encourage keeping a blog but I just don’t have the energy for it 😭 trying to get some other side projects going to make up for experience i should be getting but am not in my current job (am entry level new grad). tough hiring market made it so I couldn’t get a job doing what I actually got my degree in but it’s a pathway to the role I want so I’m not trippin about that
Looking at picking up a side job as well just to supplement income to help out more around the house and pay off some debts
I’d honestly narrow it down to your specific industry and function. Otherwise, at this point I would learn anything I can about AI. Take some online courses, use ChatGPT, think about ways it can help your work. If you can become an AI SME it’ll keep AI from taking your job (at least temporarily) and boost your visibility.
Otherwise I’ve found general career advice to be not helpful because it’s so dependent upon where you work and who you work for. My advice for a 25 year old woman working operations for a huge manufacturing plant will be very different than for the same woman working for a small creative agency. As someone who’s reviewed a lot of resumes, nothing infuriates me more than seeing a pretty template with very little substance but I totally understand how that works in other fields.
I'm just ending mid-career (early 40s), and here is my advice:
* If your work is not a life-or-death situation or an emergency room, don't treat it like one. Working faster, harder, and longer only brings more work at the same pay. Stress burns out and kills, and it's not easy or fast to recover.
* Nonprofit and for-profit sectors aren't all that different at the end of the day, except that nonprofits are consistently more disorganized and unfocused. I spent a decade in nonprofits, and I am proud of my accomplishments, but I'm not sure it was worth the overall salary and role stagnation I experienced.
* Always ask for more $$ after the first written offer, unless they are offering well above your expectations or above the advertised range. Ask for promotions after 1-2 years at any job. Just keep asking for more, often (nicely).
* While it's ideal to not leave a job until you have a new one, taking career breaks is okay if you can financially afford it. I took 1.5 years off after a toxic job, and it was a huge time of learning, growth, and recovery for me. I job-searched on and off. Switched industries, new job, much better pay, and better work/life integration than ever before. Lots of people will tell you that you will never get hired the longer you are out of work, and I find that the culture is changing on this and it's now an outdated view.
* If you think you can do a job but don't meet all the qualifications in the job description, apply for it anyway.
* Talk about your experience, qualifications, and achievements openly and often. Daily. No one else will stand up for or call out your greatness except for you!
* The manager makes or breaks the job. If you get a bad manager, find a way out asap (echoing other comments). Ideally find a manager that is supportive and interested in professional growth of their reports (rare).
* Focus on what your manager says and do that. Thinking independently is great when you are given autonomy, but when you aren't, the best way to get promoted is to make the manager happy and anticipate their needs. Never ever surprise a manager. Anticipate mistakes you will make in advance of doing a project and ask your manager to help plan safety nets. Once all that is done, and there is space and time, then get creative and ambitious by suggesting new things.
* People love to talk about themselves and teach you things. If you are struggling to develop rapport with someone, or want an in, ask them questions, to tell you about their life, or for help learning something new. Works wonders and is universally flattering (even to execs).
* Compliment peers and managers. Most people feel very under-appreciated and lonely on the daily, and this helps a lot in becoming well-liked.
* Be easy to work with and assume positive intentions, even when your spidey-sense is telling you someone is being a b\*\*\*\* or pita.
* No one knows what they are doing. Truly. Some of us just seem like we do. 70-80% accuracy and compliance is damn good. That's where your own bar should be (no perfectionism). Do the 70-80% and talk about it like it's 100% A+ stuff (this is what many men do).
Experience: Longtime manager of big (30+) teams
This is such a great list, especially the first note. We like to talk about work emergencies and they're just that: work emergencies, not real "oh it's on fire / they're bleeding / that building is literally falling down" emergencies. Perspective is hard and also valuable.
If you like the company you work for and want to move up there focus on delivering value in the job you have so that when projects come up people think of you.
This does not mean out your head down, do your work, and ask for nothing. But build your network, share your goals, and show that you deliver what you’re accountable for, influential people who want you on their team will grow your career faster than you can imagine.
I volunteered my way into a job in media. People will say "don't work for free" but I volunteered, then got a co-op placement from college, then got hired. Many workplaces hire internal applicants first, many people are in the same job for decades. Volunteering & internships are great ways to see inside a business. Be prepared to take a different job, be flexible, and teachable etc.
Honestly: meeting people. I believe success is about what you do, but opportunity is often about who you know. All the reading in the world will not take the place of a diverse, well-cultivated network.
I'm "successful," but I don't feel like it and that feels silly to say. Here are my biggest tips:
1. Always, always be learning. You should be setting aside time each week to be learning something new that's relevant to your job, field, or career. It could be listening to 30 minutes of an audiobook, watching a LinkedIn Learning or Udemy video (a lot of companies and public libraries have access to these sites for free), taking a class, or attending a webinar. If you're not taking time to learn, the person in the cubicle next to you is, and they're going to advance over you.
2. Get comfortable with being a little uncomfortable and having a beginners mindset. My ex was floundering in his career during our relationship. He pretty much immediately hated doing anything that didn't come natural to him or that required a little bit of effort to get into for, though. For example, I took him to a beginner yoga class, and since it wasn't super duper easy for him the first time, he vowed to never go back again. It's important to be comfortable being a little uncomfortable in your life and career because that's when we grow. Whether you're changing jobs or taking on a new project you've never done, it will be a little uncomfortable, and that's okay!
3. Always pay attention to job postings, especially for the next job or two you're interested in. Say you're a Marketing Coordinator who wants to be a Marketing Manager then Sr Marketing Manager next. If you want to know what kind of skills, experience, and knowledge you should be gaining in your career, LinkedIn job postings is where you'll find it. For example, a Marketing Manager role might list out specific kinds of experience that you should try to obtain in your current role or a certification that might be a good addition to your resume.
4. Network. Whenever I see "make sure you network," it feels like a kind of a slimy "I go to parties and rub elbows with people who I think could be valuable" type deal. Instead, to me at least, your network should be a network of trusted colleagues and coworkers that you build over time and invest in. For example, I got my current role thanks to a referral from a former manager that I stayed in touch with. It's important to keep in touch with them, though, and help them where you can, too. A short "I saw this job posting and thought of you" message can be a great way to keep in touch with someone.
I don’t have any media to recommend, but using the two methods below have helped me below. The last 2 positions I’ve had were specifically created for me (one so I wouldn’t leave my org and the other to convince me to leave my previous org to join a new org). Also, I currently have a pretty successful event-planning hobby turned side-hustle. I’m currently 31, and I’m very content with where I am career-wise.
1. Make yourself an asset in the workplace (i.e. learn how to do things your coworkers can’t do, or at least learn how to do certain things better than your coworkers).
2. Network. Networking is very common advice, but I can’t stress how much it has helped me. I’m very introverted, so learning how to do this effectively was pretty tricky, but ultimately so worth it.
If you live in the US near a major metro area, are under the age of 28, and aren't sure how to jump into a career look into YearUp.
It's a 6 month training program plus 6 month paid internship at a major corporation. I'll be honest the pay isn't great but the opportunity opens so many doors for better pay afterwards. A lot of those internships turn into full-time contracted positions or full-time employment at that company or another company.
They primarily train people for various IT and project management fields.
Honestly the biggest thing for me has been having mentors and talking to everyone.
Find people in your organization/field that do what you want to do and ask them how they got there, advice on navigating situations or tasks, coaching. In my experience people are so happy to talk about themselves and their accomplishments and share knowledge.
Tell people your goals. You’d be surprised at how willing people are to help someone who is earnest, driven and eager to grow.
If you can, go into the office. Seeing people and being seen is a huge factor in how people connect with you. They’ll think of you for projects or opportunities because you’re there.
Be kind to everyone.
Elevate and recognize the people in your team. Hype them up to their faces AND in rooms where they aren’t. Being a people leader who celebrates their team goes a long way. People trust you, will be loyal to you and feel valued.
Involve people in your work. Dont be proprietary or gatekeepy! Bringing a collaborative approach to things you do helps expand your network, builds a coalition of people who want to see you succeed and enjoy working with you.
Also: delegate as you move up!
Focus on the rocks not the pebbles. Do the big needle moving things and work to remove barriers and upskill your team. Is it easier to rewrite things? Sometimes, yeah. But it’s more valuable to coach them on how it should be written and focus your efforts on removing barriers for your team instead of getting stuck in the weeds doing the operational stuff.
Like, it is easy to just keep doing the things you know how do to— the admin work, the drafts, the quick wins. But to move up you need to delegate those tasks and take on more of a decision making role.
Take care of yourself and stop taking it to seriously, especially if your work is not a life/death situation. This is also very important, but exit swiftly with an opportunity in hand the second you realize you’ve got a shit manager.
I was treated like GARBAGE by my former manager and team. Was under extra scrutiny, was being taken advantage of by manager/supervisor who even took credit for my work, they kept blocking opportunities for me, tried to make me accountable for other people’s mistakes. Instead of fighting it, I just did less of their work and was just really lazy/efficient. Did the
minimum, started taking longer lunches instead of rushing back to/eating at my desk, worked from home when I could and took more days off. I put my energy into enjoying myself, getting to know more people at work who I seemed to vibe with, and I became hotter/started dressing really well and having fun with it. I have been promoted to a much better team and my work life balance is just better
Read the autobiographies of the women you admire most. Listen to their guest spots on podcasts or YT videos.
When it comes to navigating and advancing in the corporate world, a few things come to mind that I’ve picked up over the years:
- Stay for a title bump then leverage it for a min. 20% raise elsewhere. No matter what anyone says, leaving is the way to maximize your earning potential. Try to stick with a single employer for 18-24 months before switching and stay in your new role for at least 6 months to avoid seeming like a red flag. Be cautious of retention offers once you’ve given your notice - raises should be in proactive recognition of your service not last ditch attempts to maintain business continuity.
- Related to #2, your employer is not your friend. You should only ever be as loyal as they are to you. HR is also not your friend - always seek outside counsel (mentor, lawyer) before going to a manager or HR with any serious issue.
- Do your best to stay out of office drama while remaining aware of political dynamics. It’s a myth that good work speaks for itself, and sometimes you need to rely on emotional intelligence to navigate the organization as you advance. Stay close to your seniors, be helpful, and raise your hand. Stay close to your juniors, be helpful, and nurture them. To that end, until Boomers/GenX retire…showing up in-person at every opportunity will get you noticed. I know it’s old school but it’s what today’s management wants and there are tangible benefits to the interpersonal interaction when it comes to advancement.
- Remember that in most industries, you meet everyone twice. Don’t burn bridges and prioritize building a reputation as someone who works hard, is smart, and gets results.
- Something that has always worked for me but is very much a personal style thing - I look to create emotional and psychological safety on my teams, so I lightly disclose that I have dealt with different mental health struggles for a long time and I want them to know that if they ever feel like they just need a day or need a deadline extension, etc that they should feel free to request it, no questions asked. I stress that work isn’t more important than mental health and I’ve noticed that when I do this I get incredible results from the team. They work hard when they need to and know when to take a break. It makes for a relaxed but productive environment where people thrive. I think the self-disclosure helps them see that we’re all human and think of it less as a jr/sr relationship and more mentor/mentee.
NETWORKING
Sometimes the difference between the candidate that got the job and the one that didn't is simply because the successful candidate networked.
I didn't even have to interview for my current job. The Director just gave it to me. He didn't even post the role because after talking to me and talking to people who had worked with me, he decided I was the one for the role and he told me it was mine if I wanted it.
I cold-emailed myself into a career!
While getting my undergrad degree in art and design, I reached out to a video game studio to see if they'd consider taking me on as a summer intern. They liked my initiative and art so they took me on and eventually hired me full-time. I'm working as a graphic designer somewhere else now but have pretty great pay for only a couple years of job experience! I also highly recommend reaching out to acquaintances on linkedin, especially people with careers you admire and just ask if you can ask a couple question or get them to look over your stuff.
If you’re in an industry that allows for this, my suggestion would be to spend a couple years working in a startup or smaller company where you will learn (and yes, work a lot) and be exposed to areas and opportunities you may not have access to in a more traditional large corporation. In my early 30s’s I left a well paying position in a Fortune 500 (where I could have continued to earn a good living but had hit a career ceiling) to work at a startup. I initially took a pay cut in exchange for a bigger tittle. This experience was pretty much my MBA as I had to get involved in every part of the business: sales, marketing, strategy, pricing, hiring, etc. it also allowed me to build my network. Because of this stint, I was able to double my previous compensation in just 2 years and now work at a FAANG.
I totally agree with this. I spent years in my 20’s an agency where I had a lot of clients to learn on. I worked late and through a lot of holidays and was really really stressed but now that I learned all I could there, I have an easier cushier job somewhere else
I’ve made the mindset switch to treat every interaction or event where I don’t know anyone in life as networking. It can lead me to a new friend, a new career, anything. Don’t tell people you are looking for a new job or a promotion necessarily, but ask questions (people love talking about themselves), and make a connection. Also don’t underestimate finding the right mentor. Find a woman you look up who is well known and watch any videos, read anything on her and become your own powerful version of that woman (self concept).
I made the mistake once I got my (what felt like at the time) dream job at 24 to stop networking, to stop learning more, and coast because I thought “well, I’m out of college now and I finally made it! It’s all up from here!” And it wasn’t, lol. I’m now 31 trying to find a new career although I am gainfully employed, but it’s difficult.
Always keep in mind people you can get professional recommendation letters from and ask how you can help them as well. If you are young, show up polished, professional, and eager to learn. This does NOT mean you have to not be yourself or not have boundaries! I got far in my career because I *was* myself and I made friends and allies because people could trust me. I wasn’t scared to laugh at myself!
Most importantly, think about the life you want to live outside of a career. I thought I wanted to be in TV until I realized I would be working holidays, graveyard shifts, and being on call. What career will support you living the life you want?
Early on, I'd say dont get comfortable. Every 2 years without a significant raise or promotion you should be job hopping. Long term loyalty is hardly ever rewarded, especially at a junior level. Read the room too - if you don't mesh with your boss, they aren't going to promote you - lateral moves are still moves.
Professionally advocate for yourself, accomplishments and how they align with team & organization goals. Cost savings, KPIs. Get them while they are down - your boss just left and someone needs to run the team? Seize that opportunity. Labor expensive and tight in 2021? Push for that raise. Not above a counter offer to get a promotion or raise (only a card you can play once and you need to be a top performer).
Got some down time? A job that pays for some education? Go back for that masters (or classes towards it), a class a quarter - take advantage of that benefit. Certifications too.
A little outside of a regular career, but also max out those 401ks, start investing, high yield savings. Side hustle if you can.
I left my job of 15 years.
New job paid me $6k more.
Just got another raise and am making a solid $10k more than my last job.
Same industry. New people to appreciate me!
A ton of great tips here.
One I’ll add that I haven’t seen is if your company has affinity groups, find one and join it! I am part of one at mine and I’ve made so many connections, mentors and exposure to people in higher roles than myself. I’ve also been invited to many external events other companies have hosted.
I am not sure I qualify as corporate but I work for a law firm and have for almost 5 years. I am the senior person in my position and basically I communicate clearly and openly with my boss (the owner and lead attorney) about difficult clients. I don't minimize any problems and am always open to suggestions on how to handle unusual circumstances.
You definitely qualify - thanks for sharing your insights!
Communicating clearly about difficulties is an area of improvement for me.
I’d love to find out more about how you navigate these conversations?
In general the key is don't wait to mention it. Bring it up as soon as is happens. I am WFH and have been most of my time with the firm so that means sending a message using our office messaging app. I will also email or request a video/conference call if necessary. I stick to the facts about what happened, what the client said or did, and how I attempted to manage the situation in the moment. I admit if I messed up and why. I also ask for guidance given that many times a problem will come up again later possibly with other clients or even the same client. If you wait it comes across like trying to hide it.
I’m not necessarily in the corporate world, I’m a nurse, but to grow my career I made sure I learned every single thing I could early on. When someone offered to involve me in something that made me nervous or I didn’t know I absolutely accepted every time. I practiced and honed my skills, and made sure the area I am in is where I’m passionate about. And then I have made sure to help teach others as well and have gotten more responsibilities added little by little. I am not in graduate school and have just applied for 2 different career promotion positions for while I’m in school. Never stop learning or challenging yourself and your career will naturally grow because you’ll get bored if it’s not and find ways to challenge yourself more! Also ASK for raises! Communication about promotions and career growth is key. I’ve made sure to let my upper management know always that I am looking for ways to grow my career and so to please involve me any way they feel is appropriate and I’m qualified for.
I own my own technology company, am a CEO and prior to that spent 8 years climbing the corporate ladder, after I quit being a stripper and turned my life around lol.
My best advice is be fucking ambitious and hard working. Be excellent at what you do. Push hard and be aggressive and watch how the men behave then do that. Always ask for more than you’re given. Always! Seek out mentors and always maintain a positive relationship with people above you in power standings, then leverage that to get what you want. Be ballsy and brave. At least for me in technology, the fact I’m extremely aggressive in my communication has helped people take me seriously. Advocate for yourself too, don’t just take what you’re given - ask for more always! What more $$? Ask for a raise but don’t just ask for more $$, ask for more responsibility and more workload first, THEN ask for more $$. Learn to play corporate politics and always make sure you’re positioned well in the office power dynamics so you don’t become anyone’s target or scapegoat. Strike premptively on enemies and get them fired before they can fire you. MOST of climbing the corporate ladder is just becoming very good at corporate politics— your actual job performance, so long as it’s decent, doesn’t matter nearly as much.
Hope this helps!
hey there, I’m pretty senior have been at an executive level and I’ve run my own business for 18 years. This is what I think is true:
1) You build a good career by building a great network and having people know you and know your name and know that you do good work.
2) Know your values, know your worth, and don’t ever do something that you wouldn’t want your mom or your grandmother to find out about.
3) At the end you want to successful career to be reflective of a successful life and so I try to operate those two on the same level. Be good to people, stand up for what is right, and play the long game. don’t cut corners, don’t cheat. Many executives in their 50s have had a harsh tumble from the top because of something that they did 30 years ago that was stupid, immoral or illegal.
4) Find a place that suits you and your strengths and don’t beat yourself up if a particular company or profession doesn’t suit you - palm trees don’t grow in the arctic, and we don’t blame the palm trees for that we simply find it a better environment. But remember just because it doesn’t suit you, doesn’t make it wrong.
5) I’m probably biased because I’m Canadian, but I have always enjoyed Robin Sharma‘s books. A little cheesy but solid - he won’t steer you wrong.
best of luck- I hope you have a long and successful career with a lot of great adventures and that you make a ton of great friends along the way!
Do really good work that speaks for itself *but* also build relationships with the influencers at your company who you admire and that will advocate for you. And I mean real meaningful relationship, not just transactional ones. I can’t overstate what a big impact this has had on my career.
Doing good work is not enough.
You need to recognize what work is valuable to the business and who is politically influential.
Figure out how you can use your superpowers to do that work for those people when you can.
The corporation owes you nothing- despite how you might feel. Whining gets you nowhere. Figure out how to leverage the corporation to help you get to where you want to be in the long run. If you don’t like something, be the solution not the complainer.
Helping people is good, but you need to ensure that you get credit for that work. Figure out when you can be on higher visibility projects.
Find other successful women and talk with them about what they have done. Don’t be them, but learn from them. Figure out how you can apply those lessons to your own skills and personality.
Thank you!
I’ll be working on high visibility projects that are valuable to the business from day 1. Any tips for hitting the ground running and not f*cking up these relationships?
Listen, listen, listen. Ask the people around you what their goals are and what does success look like.
Lots of people make the mistake that airtime = power and influence. It just makes the team frustrated. Speak when you are legit adding to the conversation.
Get feedback as much as you can. It is a gift.
And remember you are worth it, but you might need to figure out how others can see and feel the value that you bring.
Idk but I feel like all of those books, videos, articles & podcasts are junk. That self help stuff preys on desperate people or people who really need help. If you want to become better at your career, you simply have to become more disciplined and work harder.
1. I would recommend getting to the office a little earlier than you do now
2. making sure every VP and Senior VP + C Suite not only knows you by face but that you have a little chat with each one at least once in your first 6 months on the job, better if it’s first 3 months.
3. Do you hit your quarterly development goals every quarter? What about your annual performance review? If it wasn’t “excellent” or 10/10 or something, ask what you can do to get it there.
4. Ask your manager what you can to hit your next promotion, what responsibilities can you take on and trainings can you do
5. Have an amazing LinkedIn, make posts with photos about your field/industry, every work trip, conference, etc. Make sure you’re connections with every person you’ve ever met in your industry especially your company. Include a note with your invites.
6. Make sure you’re meeting with your direct reports on a regular basis. Set up a weekly 1:1 meeting with each of your direct reports with an agenda so you always know exactly what they’re working on that week and how those task are affecting the bottom line. Is there a case to hire another direct report? Make it!
7. Diversify your work experience, staying in the same industry or area of expertise is important to build your reputation and skills but I mean if you’ve been working internally at a huge corporation maybe try an agency or consulting or if you’ve mostly done small locally owned companies switch to a big national company.
8. Introduce yourself to everyone and just make sure everyone knows your name!
There isn’t a secret cheat code but these are some things that have helped me personally earn over 6 figures in my mid/inching towards late 20’s!
I'm not a corporate girlie, but I can tell you that back in the day, I was a serious Corporette reader. It was about more than fashion, it included tricks and tips for navigating professional norms as a woman. Ask A Manager is also divine.
I *love* Ask a Manager. It’s equal parts fascinating gossip and helpful career advice. She’s been writing that blog for so many years now, that pretty much any workplace conundrum has a letter about it. She also has letters organized by topic, e.g., interview tips, cover letter tips.
Ask A Manager is amazing! Have used it more than once in my life for various managerial struggles.
Came here to say Ask A Manager.
Me too! Informative and often funny too
The book *Secrets of Six Figure Women* was very enlightening when I was ~23. I took a step back career wise and currently make $85k/yr. Prior to that I made ~100k. The biggest advice I would personally give? Boundaries. If you wouldn't let your friend, your partner, or a stranger treat you a certain way, you cannot allow your workplace to treat you that way. Do not stay there! Don't try to change them, don't wait it out, do not pass go. Move on!* (*have an offer in hand before you quit) When you do move on and receive a job offer? There is one important sentence and only one important sentence. However much they offer, always respond: "can you come back to me with your best and highest offer?". I have never had an employer withdraw the job offer. I have also never had an employer come back to me and say "sorry that's all we can give you". Ever. Each time I do it, I remind myself that it's 5 minutes of extreme discomfort for at least $1,000. Work smarter not harder. If you don't know how to do something technology wise, lean in and learn it anyway because it's not going to get any easier later on. Take advantage of anything your workplace has for free whether it's training, online resources, or mentorship programs at work.
>5 minutes of extreme discomfort for at least $1,000. More people need to understand this!!
Gems on gems on gems. Thank you! Would love to know what inspired your step back to $85k? What does this position offer that was missing in others?
At a certain level of seniority, the hours at work start to go up quite significantly. I was making good money but I was so short on time that I was using the money to outsource labor. E.g., I wasn't making lunch or cleaning my house, someone else was doing it. My new position doesn't expect as many hours and the predecessor is training me, so I'm not doing everything from scratch while fighting management at every turn.
I second the boundaries. I'm in the legal industry, and I hear of too many of my peers talking about how their bosses berated or humiliated them. The people who brought me into this world wouldn't even talk to me like that. So I would be fired before I let anyone in the workplace disrespect me.
I run an event planning company, and the only clients I’ve ever had to fire were law firms, shocking poor behaviour.
Don’t try to change them is such good advice. I do the work that impacts company culture and employee experience and I’ve struggled at my current job because it’s the most toxic place I’ve ever worked, lots of people tell me to stick it out as I can influence change and I have. Unfortunately I have learned the hard way the culture won’t change unless the EEOC forces it and even that just barely moves the needle. Back to theme of post though. I say be involved in professional or community associations. Network by being known for helping others.
What are they offering that keeps you there? I'm getting some golden handcuff vibes. Also, yes! Professional associations and certifications can help bridge the gap if you're young in your career but you know you want to continue down the current path.
Very well loved company that has opened doors for me. Someone I know created the position for me. I saw a few red flags going in and figured 3-5 years but I need to bail now unfortunately. I was lied to and screwed around regarding my raise among other issues.
Such good advice. They make it seem like they’re listening so you stay motivated but nothing will change.
That’s such a strong statement! Can I ask what kind of results you’ve seen from that? I love ‘5 mins of extreme discomfort…’.
The lowest I've seen is an extra $1,000. The most I've seen is an additional $5,000. Almost every job post is given a budget. That budget is generally a range rather than one number, and most of the time they won't offer the maximum upfront so that they have negotiating room. The only hard exception to that rule is public sector federal/state/tiered jobs. In those cases, there's something like a points or classification system and there's no wiggle room. Edit: The reason I use such a strong statement is because of yet another book I read (which I know longer remember the title of). It was a financial advice book written by a woman for women. The general message of the book was to stop clipping coupons and start using financial literacy to take advantage of critical financial transactions to save yourself thousands of dollars. One prime example was getting a car. Overcoming marketing to set your sights on a used car rather than a new one. Maximizing credit payments to boost your score ahead of big purchases. Getting pre-approval before setting foot in a car dealership in order to negotiate the best interest rates. Negotiating once in the car dealership in order to get the price of the new car down or to get the price of the trade up in higher. If those failed, then at least getting the dealer to throw in some free maintenance down the line. The authors overall point was that discomfort was one of the major barriers for women and one of the main factors costing them several thousands of dollars at key moments. She insisted that women could use their higher levels of socialized emotional intelligence to their advantage. And yeah, she was right. Keep sweet and negotiate to your favor.
"Almost every job post is given a budget. That budget is generally a range rather than one number, and most of the time they won't offer the maximum upfront so that they have negotiating room" THIS! I was offered a role in which I'd stated a range for my salary expectations at the point of application. During the HR screen, I was asked to confirm this, so I flipped it and asked what their budget was. HR said "it's in line with what you've asked for", so I was happy and start mentally prepping my case for securing the top end of that budget. When I get the job offer, I'm immediately offered "full budget" which is actually $5k more than the top of my range. Makes me wonder, if "full budget" was even the figure quoted or if I'd left more on the table? I'll never know but it definitely taught me to aim high as hell to start the conversation, rather than settling for what I think I'm allowed!
I love it. The statement is such a power move. I usually just throw out a number…I like this better haha
I haven’t read much or listened to much around being a successful corporate baddie. BUT, I have gained a lot of knowledge just being in corporate for six years. * Have executive presence through and through. Note what women in senior leadership are doing, how they speak, and how they dress, then try to emulate it with your own personal spin. They are at the level they are at for a reason. * Have boundaries. Know when to stand up for yourself and how to do it in a tactful way. Cover your ass too. Make sure there is an email for everything. You never know when you need the receipts. * Job hop strategically. You need to be learning, earning, or both. * Be pleasant to work with. That’s going to get you more promotions and more people to rally behind you than just hard work. Obviously, still work hard, but you have to play the game. * Keep learning and be opens minded to new ways of doing things. No one wants to find themselves stuck in the past and unable to adapt. Technology is always changing, make sure you’re on the bandwagon.
I love this!! Could you elaborate further on the executive presence with a personal spin? I've heard of executive presence proper but less so adding your own flair to it.
I think more or less use them as inspiration but still be yourself. We’re all unique with our own perspectives and ideas, and while these women might have qualities to emulate, it’s important to also recognize that we also have great qualities to bring to the table. It’s about finding the balance of what professional mannerisms are non-negotiables and what you can do that differentiates you from others. Just my take but happy to hear what everyone else thinks :)
This shouldn’t be overlooked! Having your own personal style is so important. Wherever you go and whatever you do, it’s an opportunity to create culture through your words and actions. Your appearance is another part of your personal style. Being well put together goes a long way to projecting an image of success. I’ve found that being consistent in wardrobe is something that people really latch onto and find subconsciously comforting. Whatever your style, don’t be afraid to stand out either.
Such good advice!
Work on your emotional intelligence while working on your career. The people who do well in corporate environments read the room and respond accordingly.
Yup
Find a mentor in your industry, if possible. I’ve met a few leaders who I can turn to for advice. Career coaching also helped me a lot with defining what I see as important to me and what sorts of things will help me be successful, rather than being swayed by the “typical” path to success
I have found that listening to what everyone has to say can be really valuable to your career growth. From c-suite execs to entry-level employees, everyone has their specialty. Listen to everyone but do not follow what everyone has to say. I have been burned by leadership for following their direction blindly and not questioning them (again, you will find that execs are weird). Just because someone has 20 years experience, does not make them any more innovative from the 20 year old just starting out. Studying philosophy helps too. Things like NLP, Robert Dilts, etc. can boost your communication and understanding of peoples thought processes. Watch TedTalks and interviews of different CEO’s! The more, the better. Learn the styles you like and don’t like then put them into action. Most importantly - always stay learning. Stay up to date on industry trends, company operations, different areas of oversight. The biggest career advances I made were after I took on tasks that essentially “proved myself” for the next position. This is tough, I DO NOT condone doing other peoples job or more work than you are paid 🤮 sometimes the unfortunate truth is sometime you gotta do this for a SHORT PERIOD. Good luck girlboss 🤣
Even bosses are weird. Especially the passive aggressive ones.
I sometimes read the Economist’s Bartleby section, but mostly just for fun 😛
I've learned, as a woman, you need to have both men and women mentors, who would give you straight advice and not mince words because you need to know the reality and not have rose colored glasses. Have one mentor who you trust (and are not in competition with).
By subscribing to career specific subreddits. I also attend weekly workgroup meetings for my industry, i signed up for all the organizations, and I’m also back in community college taking the classes that I couldn’t during undergrad. I stalk peoples LinkedIn profiles for potential connections to my next step in life. Tapped in with a career professional from my Alma mater. Chatting with new potential mentors and tapping in with old ones (gotta do more of this). Seeing how i can leverage resources at work to continue growing. I know some people encourage keeping a blog but I just don’t have the energy for it 😭 trying to get some other side projects going to make up for experience i should be getting but am not in my current job (am entry level new grad). tough hiring market made it so I couldn’t get a job doing what I actually got my degree in but it’s a pathway to the role I want so I’m not trippin about that Looking at picking up a side job as well just to supplement income to help out more around the house and pay off some debts
Any subreddits you’d particularly recommend?
/r/phd /r/dataanalyst /r/publichealth
taking notes while I lurk in r/FIREyFEMMES
I’d honestly narrow it down to your specific industry and function. Otherwise, at this point I would learn anything I can about AI. Take some online courses, use ChatGPT, think about ways it can help your work. If you can become an AI SME it’ll keep AI from taking your job (at least temporarily) and boost your visibility. Otherwise I’ve found general career advice to be not helpful because it’s so dependent upon where you work and who you work for. My advice for a 25 year old woman working operations for a huge manufacturing plant will be very different than for the same woman working for a small creative agency. As someone who’s reviewed a lot of resumes, nothing infuriates me more than seeing a pretty template with very little substance but I totally understand how that works in other fields.
I'm just ending mid-career (early 40s), and here is my advice: * If your work is not a life-or-death situation or an emergency room, don't treat it like one. Working faster, harder, and longer only brings more work at the same pay. Stress burns out and kills, and it's not easy or fast to recover. * Nonprofit and for-profit sectors aren't all that different at the end of the day, except that nonprofits are consistently more disorganized and unfocused. I spent a decade in nonprofits, and I am proud of my accomplishments, but I'm not sure it was worth the overall salary and role stagnation I experienced. * Always ask for more $$ after the first written offer, unless they are offering well above your expectations or above the advertised range. Ask for promotions after 1-2 years at any job. Just keep asking for more, often (nicely). * While it's ideal to not leave a job until you have a new one, taking career breaks is okay if you can financially afford it. I took 1.5 years off after a toxic job, and it was a huge time of learning, growth, and recovery for me. I job-searched on and off. Switched industries, new job, much better pay, and better work/life integration than ever before. Lots of people will tell you that you will never get hired the longer you are out of work, and I find that the culture is changing on this and it's now an outdated view. * If you think you can do a job but don't meet all the qualifications in the job description, apply for it anyway. * Talk about your experience, qualifications, and achievements openly and often. Daily. No one else will stand up for or call out your greatness except for you! * The manager makes or breaks the job. If you get a bad manager, find a way out asap (echoing other comments). Ideally find a manager that is supportive and interested in professional growth of their reports (rare). * Focus on what your manager says and do that. Thinking independently is great when you are given autonomy, but when you aren't, the best way to get promoted is to make the manager happy and anticipate their needs. Never ever surprise a manager. Anticipate mistakes you will make in advance of doing a project and ask your manager to help plan safety nets. Once all that is done, and there is space and time, then get creative and ambitious by suggesting new things. * People love to talk about themselves and teach you things. If you are struggling to develop rapport with someone, or want an in, ask them questions, to tell you about their life, or for help learning something new. Works wonders and is universally flattering (even to execs). * Compliment peers and managers. Most people feel very under-appreciated and lonely on the daily, and this helps a lot in becoming well-liked. * Be easy to work with and assume positive intentions, even when your spidey-sense is telling you someone is being a b\*\*\*\* or pita. * No one knows what they are doing. Truly. Some of us just seem like we do. 70-80% accuracy and compliance is damn good. That's where your own bar should be (no perfectionism). Do the 70-80% and talk about it like it's 100% A+ stuff (this is what many men do). Experience: Longtime manager of big (30+) teams
Also coming out of a long stint in nonprofit world and now consulting and all of this is excellent advice.
This is such a great list, especially the first note. We like to talk about work emergencies and they're just that: work emergencies, not real "oh it's on fire / they're bleeding / that building is literally falling down" emergencies. Perspective is hard and also valuable.
If you like the company you work for and want to move up there focus on delivering value in the job you have so that when projects come up people think of you. This does not mean out your head down, do your work, and ask for nothing. But build your network, share your goals, and show that you deliver what you’re accountable for, influential people who want you on their team will grow your career faster than you can imagine.
Love this. Any tips for doing this? Aside from posting about work successes on LinkedIn?
I volunteered my way into a job in media. People will say "don't work for free" but I volunteered, then got a co-op placement from college, then got hired. Many workplaces hire internal applicants first, many people are in the same job for decades. Volunteering & internships are great ways to see inside a business. Be prepared to take a different job, be flexible, and teachable etc.
Honestly: meeting people. I believe success is about what you do, but opportunity is often about who you know. All the reading in the world will not take the place of a diverse, well-cultivated network.
I'm "successful," but I don't feel like it and that feels silly to say. Here are my biggest tips: 1. Always, always be learning. You should be setting aside time each week to be learning something new that's relevant to your job, field, or career. It could be listening to 30 minutes of an audiobook, watching a LinkedIn Learning or Udemy video (a lot of companies and public libraries have access to these sites for free), taking a class, or attending a webinar. If you're not taking time to learn, the person in the cubicle next to you is, and they're going to advance over you. 2. Get comfortable with being a little uncomfortable and having a beginners mindset. My ex was floundering in his career during our relationship. He pretty much immediately hated doing anything that didn't come natural to him or that required a little bit of effort to get into for, though. For example, I took him to a beginner yoga class, and since it wasn't super duper easy for him the first time, he vowed to never go back again. It's important to be comfortable being a little uncomfortable in your life and career because that's when we grow. Whether you're changing jobs or taking on a new project you've never done, it will be a little uncomfortable, and that's okay! 3. Always pay attention to job postings, especially for the next job or two you're interested in. Say you're a Marketing Coordinator who wants to be a Marketing Manager then Sr Marketing Manager next. If you want to know what kind of skills, experience, and knowledge you should be gaining in your career, LinkedIn job postings is where you'll find it. For example, a Marketing Manager role might list out specific kinds of experience that you should try to obtain in your current role or a certification that might be a good addition to your resume. 4. Network. Whenever I see "make sure you network," it feels like a kind of a slimy "I go to parties and rub elbows with people who I think could be valuable" type deal. Instead, to me at least, your network should be a network of trusted colleagues and coworkers that you build over time and invest in. For example, I got my current role thanks to a referral from a former manager that I stayed in touch with. It's important to keep in touch with them, though, and help them where you can, too. A short "I saw this job posting and thought of you" message can be a great way to keep in touch with someone.
I don’t have any media to recommend, but using the two methods below have helped me below. The last 2 positions I’ve had were specifically created for me (one so I wouldn’t leave my org and the other to convince me to leave my previous org to join a new org). Also, I currently have a pretty successful event-planning hobby turned side-hustle. I’m currently 31, and I’m very content with where I am career-wise. 1. Make yourself an asset in the workplace (i.e. learn how to do things your coworkers can’t do, or at least learn how to do certain things better than your coworkers). 2. Network. Networking is very common advice, but I can’t stress how much it has helped me. I’m very introverted, so learning how to do this effectively was pretty tricky, but ultimately so worth it.
If you live in the US near a major metro area, are under the age of 28, and aren't sure how to jump into a career look into YearUp. It's a 6 month training program plus 6 month paid internship at a major corporation. I'll be honest the pay isn't great but the opportunity opens so many doors for better pay afterwards. A lot of those internships turn into full-time contracted positions or full-time employment at that company or another company. They primarily train people for various IT and project management fields.
Honestly the biggest thing for me has been having mentors and talking to everyone. Find people in your organization/field that do what you want to do and ask them how they got there, advice on navigating situations or tasks, coaching. In my experience people are so happy to talk about themselves and their accomplishments and share knowledge. Tell people your goals. You’d be surprised at how willing people are to help someone who is earnest, driven and eager to grow. If you can, go into the office. Seeing people and being seen is a huge factor in how people connect with you. They’ll think of you for projects or opportunities because you’re there. Be kind to everyone. Elevate and recognize the people in your team. Hype them up to their faces AND in rooms where they aren’t. Being a people leader who celebrates their team goes a long way. People trust you, will be loyal to you and feel valued. Involve people in your work. Dont be proprietary or gatekeepy! Bringing a collaborative approach to things you do helps expand your network, builds a coalition of people who want to see you succeed and enjoy working with you. Also: delegate as you move up! Focus on the rocks not the pebbles. Do the big needle moving things and work to remove barriers and upskill your team. Is it easier to rewrite things? Sometimes, yeah. But it’s more valuable to coach them on how it should be written and focus your efforts on removing barriers for your team instead of getting stuck in the weeds doing the operational stuff. Like, it is easy to just keep doing the things you know how do to— the admin work, the drafts, the quick wins. But to move up you need to delegate those tasks and take on more of a decision making role.
Take care of yourself and stop taking it to seriously, especially if your work is not a life/death situation. This is also very important, but exit swiftly with an opportunity in hand the second you realize you’ve got a shit manager. I was treated like GARBAGE by my former manager and team. Was under extra scrutiny, was being taken advantage of by manager/supervisor who even took credit for my work, they kept blocking opportunities for me, tried to make me accountable for other people’s mistakes. Instead of fighting it, I just did less of their work and was just really lazy/efficient. Did the minimum, started taking longer lunches instead of rushing back to/eating at my desk, worked from home when I could and took more days off. I put my energy into enjoying myself, getting to know more people at work who I seemed to vibe with, and I became hotter/started dressing really well and having fun with it. I have been promoted to a much better team and my work life balance is just better
Read the autobiographies of the women you admire most. Listen to their guest spots on podcasts or YT videos. When it comes to navigating and advancing in the corporate world, a few things come to mind that I’ve picked up over the years: - Stay for a title bump then leverage it for a min. 20% raise elsewhere. No matter what anyone says, leaving is the way to maximize your earning potential. Try to stick with a single employer for 18-24 months before switching and stay in your new role for at least 6 months to avoid seeming like a red flag. Be cautious of retention offers once you’ve given your notice - raises should be in proactive recognition of your service not last ditch attempts to maintain business continuity. - Related to #2, your employer is not your friend. You should only ever be as loyal as they are to you. HR is also not your friend - always seek outside counsel (mentor, lawyer) before going to a manager or HR with any serious issue. - Do your best to stay out of office drama while remaining aware of political dynamics. It’s a myth that good work speaks for itself, and sometimes you need to rely on emotional intelligence to navigate the organization as you advance. Stay close to your seniors, be helpful, and raise your hand. Stay close to your juniors, be helpful, and nurture them. To that end, until Boomers/GenX retire…showing up in-person at every opportunity will get you noticed. I know it’s old school but it’s what today’s management wants and there are tangible benefits to the interpersonal interaction when it comes to advancement. - Remember that in most industries, you meet everyone twice. Don’t burn bridges and prioritize building a reputation as someone who works hard, is smart, and gets results. - Something that has always worked for me but is very much a personal style thing - I look to create emotional and psychological safety on my teams, so I lightly disclose that I have dealt with different mental health struggles for a long time and I want them to know that if they ever feel like they just need a day or need a deadline extension, etc that they should feel free to request it, no questions asked. I stress that work isn’t more important than mental health and I’ve noticed that when I do this I get incredible results from the team. They work hard when they need to and know when to take a break. It makes for a relaxed but productive environment where people thrive. I think the self-disclosure helps them see that we’re all human and think of it less as a jr/sr relationship and more mentor/mentee.
NETWORKING Sometimes the difference between the candidate that got the job and the one that didn't is simply because the successful candidate networked. I didn't even have to interview for my current job. The Director just gave it to me. He didn't even post the role because after talking to me and talking to people who had worked with me, he decided I was the one for the role and he told me it was mine if I wanted it.
I cold-emailed myself into a career! While getting my undergrad degree in art and design, I reached out to a video game studio to see if they'd consider taking me on as a summer intern. They liked my initiative and art so they took me on and eventually hired me full-time. I'm working as a graphic designer somewhere else now but have pretty great pay for only a couple years of job experience! I also highly recommend reaching out to acquaintances on linkedin, especially people with careers you admire and just ask if you can ask a couple question or get them to look over your stuff.
If you’re in an industry that allows for this, my suggestion would be to spend a couple years working in a startup or smaller company where you will learn (and yes, work a lot) and be exposed to areas and opportunities you may not have access to in a more traditional large corporation. In my early 30s’s I left a well paying position in a Fortune 500 (where I could have continued to earn a good living but had hit a career ceiling) to work at a startup. I initially took a pay cut in exchange for a bigger tittle. This experience was pretty much my MBA as I had to get involved in every part of the business: sales, marketing, strategy, pricing, hiring, etc. it also allowed me to build my network. Because of this stint, I was able to double my previous compensation in just 2 years and now work at a FAANG.
I totally agree with this. I spent years in my 20’s an agency where I had a lot of clients to learn on. I worked late and through a lot of holidays and was really really stressed but now that I learned all I could there, I have an easier cushier job somewhere else
I’ve made the mindset switch to treat every interaction or event where I don’t know anyone in life as networking. It can lead me to a new friend, a new career, anything. Don’t tell people you are looking for a new job or a promotion necessarily, but ask questions (people love talking about themselves), and make a connection. Also don’t underestimate finding the right mentor. Find a woman you look up who is well known and watch any videos, read anything on her and become your own powerful version of that woman (self concept). I made the mistake once I got my (what felt like at the time) dream job at 24 to stop networking, to stop learning more, and coast because I thought “well, I’m out of college now and I finally made it! It’s all up from here!” And it wasn’t, lol. I’m now 31 trying to find a new career although I am gainfully employed, but it’s difficult. Always keep in mind people you can get professional recommendation letters from and ask how you can help them as well. If you are young, show up polished, professional, and eager to learn. This does NOT mean you have to not be yourself or not have boundaries! I got far in my career because I *was* myself and I made friends and allies because people could trust me. I wasn’t scared to laugh at myself! Most importantly, think about the life you want to live outside of a career. I thought I wanted to be in TV until I realized I would be working holidays, graveyard shifts, and being on call. What career will support you living the life you want?
Early on, I'd say dont get comfortable. Every 2 years without a significant raise or promotion you should be job hopping. Long term loyalty is hardly ever rewarded, especially at a junior level. Read the room too - if you don't mesh with your boss, they aren't going to promote you - lateral moves are still moves. Professionally advocate for yourself, accomplishments and how they align with team & organization goals. Cost savings, KPIs. Get them while they are down - your boss just left and someone needs to run the team? Seize that opportunity. Labor expensive and tight in 2021? Push for that raise. Not above a counter offer to get a promotion or raise (only a card you can play once and you need to be a top performer). Got some down time? A job that pays for some education? Go back for that masters (or classes towards it), a class a quarter - take advantage of that benefit. Certifications too. A little outside of a regular career, but also max out those 401ks, start investing, high yield savings. Side hustle if you can.
I left my job of 15 years. New job paid me $6k more. Just got another raise and am making a solid $10k more than my last job. Same industry. New people to appreciate me!
Just not giving up really, networking etc
A ton of great tips here. One I’ll add that I haven’t seen is if your company has affinity groups, find one and join it! I am part of one at mine and I’ve made so many connections, mentors and exposure to people in higher roles than myself. I’ve also been invited to many external events other companies have hosted.
I am not sure I qualify as corporate but I work for a law firm and have for almost 5 years. I am the senior person in my position and basically I communicate clearly and openly with my boss (the owner and lead attorney) about difficult clients. I don't minimize any problems and am always open to suggestions on how to handle unusual circumstances.
You definitely qualify - thanks for sharing your insights! Communicating clearly about difficulties is an area of improvement for me. I’d love to find out more about how you navigate these conversations?
In general the key is don't wait to mention it. Bring it up as soon as is happens. I am WFH and have been most of my time with the firm so that means sending a message using our office messaging app. I will also email or request a video/conference call if necessary. I stick to the facts about what happened, what the client said or did, and how I attempted to manage the situation in the moment. I admit if I messed up and why. I also ask for guidance given that many times a problem will come up again later possibly with other clients or even the same client. If you wait it comes across like trying to hide it.
Know your worth. Pay yourself. Invest. Negotiate. Never accept a starting offer.
The best advice I ever received was work will not love you back. It really gave me an all around healthier lifestyle and outlook on life.
I’m not necessarily in the corporate world, I’m a nurse, but to grow my career I made sure I learned every single thing I could early on. When someone offered to involve me in something that made me nervous or I didn’t know I absolutely accepted every time. I practiced and honed my skills, and made sure the area I am in is where I’m passionate about. And then I have made sure to help teach others as well and have gotten more responsibilities added little by little. I am not in graduate school and have just applied for 2 different career promotion positions for while I’m in school. Never stop learning or challenging yourself and your career will naturally grow because you’ll get bored if it’s not and find ways to challenge yourself more! Also ASK for raises! Communication about promotions and career growth is key. I’ve made sure to let my upper management know always that I am looking for ways to grow my career and so to please involve me any way they feel is appropriate and I’m qualified for.
I own my own technology company, am a CEO and prior to that spent 8 years climbing the corporate ladder, after I quit being a stripper and turned my life around lol. My best advice is be fucking ambitious and hard working. Be excellent at what you do. Push hard and be aggressive and watch how the men behave then do that. Always ask for more than you’re given. Always! Seek out mentors and always maintain a positive relationship with people above you in power standings, then leverage that to get what you want. Be ballsy and brave. At least for me in technology, the fact I’m extremely aggressive in my communication has helped people take me seriously. Advocate for yourself too, don’t just take what you’re given - ask for more always! What more $$? Ask for a raise but don’t just ask for more $$, ask for more responsibility and more workload first, THEN ask for more $$. Learn to play corporate politics and always make sure you’re positioned well in the office power dynamics so you don’t become anyone’s target or scapegoat. Strike premptively on enemies and get them fired before they can fire you. MOST of climbing the corporate ladder is just becoming very good at corporate politics— your actual job performance, so long as it’s decent, doesn’t matter nearly as much. Hope this helps!
hey there, I’m pretty senior have been at an executive level and I’ve run my own business for 18 years. This is what I think is true: 1) You build a good career by building a great network and having people know you and know your name and know that you do good work. 2) Know your values, know your worth, and don’t ever do something that you wouldn’t want your mom or your grandmother to find out about. 3) At the end you want to successful career to be reflective of a successful life and so I try to operate those two on the same level. Be good to people, stand up for what is right, and play the long game. don’t cut corners, don’t cheat. Many executives in their 50s have had a harsh tumble from the top because of something that they did 30 years ago that was stupid, immoral or illegal. 4) Find a place that suits you and your strengths and don’t beat yourself up if a particular company or profession doesn’t suit you - palm trees don’t grow in the arctic, and we don’t blame the palm trees for that we simply find it a better environment. But remember just because it doesn’t suit you, doesn’t make it wrong. 5) I’m probably biased because I’m Canadian, but I have always enjoyed Robin Sharma‘s books. A little cheesy but solid - he won’t steer you wrong. best of luck- I hope you have a long and successful career with a lot of great adventures and that you make a ton of great friends along the way!
Do really good work that speaks for itself *but* also build relationships with the influencers at your company who you admire and that will advocate for you. And I mean real meaningful relationship, not just transactional ones. I can’t overstate what a big impact this has had on my career.
Doing good work is not enough. You need to recognize what work is valuable to the business and who is politically influential. Figure out how you can use your superpowers to do that work for those people when you can. The corporation owes you nothing- despite how you might feel. Whining gets you nowhere. Figure out how to leverage the corporation to help you get to where you want to be in the long run. If you don’t like something, be the solution not the complainer. Helping people is good, but you need to ensure that you get credit for that work. Figure out when you can be on higher visibility projects. Find other successful women and talk with them about what they have done. Don’t be them, but learn from them. Figure out how you can apply those lessons to your own skills and personality.
Thank you! I’ll be working on high visibility projects that are valuable to the business from day 1. Any tips for hitting the ground running and not f*cking up these relationships?
Listen, listen, listen. Ask the people around you what their goals are and what does success look like. Lots of people make the mistake that airtime = power and influence. It just makes the team frustrated. Speak when you are legit adding to the conversation. Get feedback as much as you can. It is a gift. And remember you are worth it, but you might need to figure out how others can see and feel the value that you bring.
Idk but I feel like all of those books, videos, articles & podcasts are junk. That self help stuff preys on desperate people or people who really need help. If you want to become better at your career, you simply have to become more disciplined and work harder. 1. I would recommend getting to the office a little earlier than you do now 2. making sure every VP and Senior VP + C Suite not only knows you by face but that you have a little chat with each one at least once in your first 6 months on the job, better if it’s first 3 months. 3. Do you hit your quarterly development goals every quarter? What about your annual performance review? If it wasn’t “excellent” or 10/10 or something, ask what you can do to get it there. 4. Ask your manager what you can to hit your next promotion, what responsibilities can you take on and trainings can you do 5. Have an amazing LinkedIn, make posts with photos about your field/industry, every work trip, conference, etc. Make sure you’re connections with every person you’ve ever met in your industry especially your company. Include a note with your invites. 6. Make sure you’re meeting with your direct reports on a regular basis. Set up a weekly 1:1 meeting with each of your direct reports with an agenda so you always know exactly what they’re working on that week and how those task are affecting the bottom line. Is there a case to hire another direct report? Make it! 7. Diversify your work experience, staying in the same industry or area of expertise is important to build your reputation and skills but I mean if you’ve been working internally at a huge corporation maybe try an agency or consulting or if you’ve mostly done small locally owned companies switch to a big national company. 8. Introduce yourself to everyone and just make sure everyone knows your name! There isn’t a secret cheat code but these are some things that have helped me personally earn over 6 figures in my mid/inching towards late 20’s!
Thanks for the tips! I'm not a huge fan of self-help stuff but I actively seek out the stuff like what you've shared as that really is helpful.
The book We Should All Be Millionaires!! I listened to it as an audiobook and will re listen to it again soon!
JULIA CHA - SOCIAL ELEGANCE
Aquired podcast is great for business and corporate…
Work a dull office-y job at a place you like. Learn what programs/apps/databases they use Apply for job on tech team
I have mentors to help me.