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Five Ways for Women to Accelerate Their Career
By: Roxanne Batson
While the corporate world may no longer be a man's game, the sad
truth is that businesswomen are still paid less than men for the
same positions, and fewer women than men fill the top positions.
Further, when a woman is assertive and works hard to get ahead,
it can be misinterpreted whereas this behavior is admired and
rewarded in men.
What can women do to get ahead without putting out the wrong
impression? A woman can do many things to prove and market
herself in the business world. Supporting one another in these
endeavors is also important.
Network, Network, Network
You've heard it before, but it's so true--the more people you
know, the better opportunities you'll discover. Most companies
fill positions through inside sources. You're much less likely
to find your dream job through the classifieds. Moreover, if
that promotion keeps eluding you, advancement through another
company may be the answer.
Networking gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your
professionalism by helping others and providing information as
you are able. People remember these things, and your name might
pop up when an opportunity comes along. Get involved with
business functions and professional organizations. Take on a
volunteer position through the organization or serve as a
contact person for new members. The more people you know the
better.
Determine Your Niche
What do you do best? Why do you do this better, or how are you
able to fill a need that others cannot? Just as a specialty
store offers products or services that the mainstream department
stores do not, so too can you (and should you) develop a skill
set that sets you apart. Are you an engineer with strong
communication and social skills? Do you have particularly strong
leadership, analytical, or outstanding project management
skills? If so, use these to your advantage.
Volunteer to take on projects that will let you shine (and if
they're the types of projects that no one else wants, that's
even better). When the project goes well, be sure that people
know about it. This doesn't mean that you walk around the office
bragging about it to everyone, but it does mean that you get the
word out. Most projects require some type of follow-up or
project summary, which is the perfect way to summarize
everything that went well and your role in the project's
success.
Script and Practice Your Elevator Speech
An elevator speech is a brief summary (about thirty seconds or
so) designed to market yourself, outlining who you are and what
you do. This is used in networking, but also "on the spot," when
you suddenly find yourself in a situation where someone wants to
know what you are all about. The purpose of the elevator speech
is to have something prepared ahead of time for these
situations. This way you're not caught off guard, and you know
exactly what to say. Yes, it's a memorized summary of your
career and experience, but of course, you can ad lib as
necessary.
Also, be aware of the proper times to use your elevator speech.
As a professional, you understand that some situations are
inappropriate for this kind of chat. However, many businesswomen
hold back when the time is right. If you have something
prepared, this is a real confidence booster when the opportunity
presents itself.
Be a Walking Resume
Many people don't like the idea of bragging--or more
correctly--listing accomplishments and achievements on their
resume because the idea of tooting their own horn makes them
uncomfortable. The simple fact is, if you don't toot your own
horn, no one will do it for you. This means that you not only
develop a powerful paper resume, but also that you make sure
others are aware of your achievements on a regular basis. While
this may sound like you'll be a walking braggart, it doesn't
need to be this way. For example, schedule regular appointments
with your boss to review current and upcoming work. While there,
be sure to tell her about your successes.
Annual reviews are great, but your co-workers and superiors are
not going to remember everything; a few reminders along the way
can work to your advantage. Keep as much of this in writing as
possible. Document the hard numbers, comments from clients and
coworkers, and anything else that supports your success. When
clients or coworkers congratulate you on your work, ask for it
in writing. If this makes you uncomfortable, say that you want
to add it to the project file for future reference of what went
well so that it can be repeated on future assignments.
Keep Moving Forward
In nearly every profession, those at the top say one of the
primary reasons they ended up where they are is because they
didn't give up. The millionaire mindset is one of not giving up.
Persistence is key. There are always setbacks, and
unfortunately, women have more hurdles to overcome from the
outset. These can be viewed as negatives or a challenge.
If you value yourself and your contributions, you will be
better prepared to handle the setbacks. People will not always
support your goals, you won't always get the promotion, and you
won't always love your job. You will struggle with how to
overcome challenges, balance your work and family life, and how
to move ahead while maintaining positive, proactive
relationships. However, leading women entrepreneurs, women
business owners, and women in leadership roles all have one
thing in common: they never quit.
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About the author:
Roxanne is managing partner of
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