Women, please give me your tips for how to fast-track your career

[Anonymous]

I am an ambitious POC currently working as a Program Manager. I am in my middle thirties. How can I get promoted and move up? I grew up LMC so corporate politics is very new to me.

[Anonymous]

It's actually not too hard -- just be hyper-competent.

Be the most reliable employee at all times. Always show up prepared. Deliver projects early. Have a good attitude. This is a weird thing I got from Machiavelli, so it's got a kind of ugly origin, but it helps: never complain, and never admit to struggling or feeling tired. Know your stuff. I remember once my boss came into my office and asked me a question and I answered it -- he went to leave and then turned around and said to me "You are the only person here who always knows the answer any time I have a question." Make so that you are the one to rely on.

Thank don't hesitate to let people know you want to move up. I remember when a job opening came up that would have been a dream job for me, but I was years away from having enough experience for it. My Dh, who had worked there longer than i had encouraged me to apply anyway -- because it "puts you on the radar." I interviewed, and, as expected, didn't get it. A year later, another cool position came open -- and I got it. It was a big deal. I never would have even been considered for it if I hadn't applied to the other job that I would never have gotten. You want to move up? You have to show that ambition. You have to show that enthusiasm for the work.

[Anonymous]

Be the single point of failure. And by this, I mean knowing all the answers to every part of your job so much so that if you leave, the entire system will fail. I don't know if this fast-tracks but it will def make you the go-to person.

[Anonymous]

Volunteer for extra work, tell your coworkers and bosses you want to be more involved and then do it. Show up in person when you can and dress smart. Everyone I see on the fast track is out-hustling those who are doing just what needs to get done.

[Anonymous]

These people are delusional. You have to be friendly with leadership in a way that doesn’t show how obvious you are. Easier when you are into same things like golf or similar college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Volunteer for extra work, tell your coworkers and bosses you want to be more involved and then do it. Show up in person when you can and dress smart. Everyone I see on the fast track is out-hustling those who are doing just what needs to get done.

No take credit for extra work. I have a colleague who does literally nothing but attend meetings, but he co wrote a paper to gain visibility. You need to be visible. Taking on more work means you’ll be invisible grinding away at your desk.

[Anonymous]

Make your career being a stay at home mother.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the poster above, it’s not about your work it’s about who you know. Make friends and find mentors (women mentors who are accomplished and know people). Sure be good at your job but if no one knows it, you won’t get anywhere. I’m am in my mid thirties and SES and it’s solely due to my relationships with my mentors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be the single point of failure. And by this, I mean knowing all the answers to every part of your job so much so that if you leave, the entire system will fail. I don't know if this fast-tracks but it will def make you the go-to person.

That makes you hard to promote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be the single point of failure. And by this, I mean knowing all the answers to every part of your job so much so that if you leave, the entire system will fail. I don't know if this fast-tracks but it will def make you the go-to person.

That makes you hard to promote.

Second this. I have vendors left because they are too competent it’s hard to have them do something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These people are delusional. You have to be friendly with leadership in a way that doesn’t show how obvious you are. Easier when you are into same things like golf or similar college.

This is a man answer. It doesn’t work that way for women, because men don’t want to be a woman’s buddy. When men work with women they want them to be as PP put it “hyper-competent”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Volunteer for extra work, tell your coworkers and bosses you want to be more involved and then do it. Show up in person when you can and dress smart. Everyone I see on the fast track is out-hustling those who are doing just what needs to get done.

No take credit for extra work. I have a colleague who does literally nothing but attend meetings, but he co wrote a paper to gain visibility. You need to be visible. Taking on more work means you’ll be invisible grinding away at your desk.

This. Also only take on work that gives you visibility. If they give you something like “background study” find a way to pawn that one off to someone else and use the results for something new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These people are delusional. You have to be friendly with leadership in a way that doesn’t show how obvious you are. Easier when you are into same things like golf or similar college.

This is a man answer. It doesn’t work that way for women, because men don’t want to be a woman’s buddy. When men work with women they want them to be as PP put it “hyper-competent”

Maybe true, but being "hyper-competent" isn't enough, it is the minimum b. It can work well for early career women because bosses will try to elevate you if they are good. But you'll plateau with this as your only strategy. If OP is in her mid-30s, she is going to need to figure out how to be visible to decision makers. Men can do this more easily on a social level, but you can be strategic about working on projects with high profile people. You also can be vocal and ask what you need to get to the next level.

Of course, you also have to be hyper competent, especially as a POC and a woman.

[Anonymous]

The other thing is job hopping, and being ambitious about what you hop to. It can get you promotions more quickly

[Anonymous]

Focus on making your boss’s (and other ppl above you) job easier, not on the tasks of your own job. For instance if your boss asks you to send an email with info about XYZ program, don’t send him some long email with all the info about XYZ program. Find out why your boss needs the email, and craft your work product to that. Does boss need the info because her boss asked? Then craft your email to boss written with the assumption your boss can immediately forward the email. In other words, your job isn’t to handle the tasks that are in your job description. Your job is to support your superiors’ job description.

Also, be confident, don’t complain about dumb stuff and don’t add extra stuff to your superiors’ to do lists.