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

[Anonymous]

The fastest way is to move jobs every 2-3 years and make sure you get title and comp increases at each one.

[Anonymous]

Look for a new job with the title you want! Raise your profile through speaking and writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fastest way is to move jobs every 2-3 years and make sure you get title and comp increases at each one.

Agreed. I am not typically judgmental, but I look at younger people sideways who stay in jobs for more than five years. Stay long enough to learn just enough to be well-rounded and move on. Becoming a SME is unnecessary.

[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.

Unfortunately the above is true. Also I am leery of PP who suggested becoming the single point of failure / ultra reliable. IME it is very very easy to get taken for granted in this position UNLESS the work is also very visible.

[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.

Yup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fastest way is to move jobs every 2-3 years and make sure you get title and comp increases at each one.

+1 (speaking as a woman)

Maybe not every 2-3 years, but always be looking and be ready to go if a better opportunity comes around.

Also, take every single opportunity for visibility (talking at conferences, seek out leadership roles in professional organizations). This signals that you aren’t there to grind it out and you want more.

Keep good relationships with bosses at prior jobs - keeps your network more robust.

Sadly, being really really good at your job isn’t necessary. In fact, if you are hyper competent then it can threaten your superiors, who will then take it out on you. And no point in trying to be irreplaceable; as management sees it, everyone can be replaced.

[Anonymous]

OP join an organization that will get you visibility to executive leadership at different companies (like Chief or an org that highlights promoting POC talent).

Also consider working with an executive leadership coach.

[Anonymous]

OP, as a POC woman, none of the typical advice on this board will work for you, aside from my post above about the exposure to executive leadership orgs and programs.

The game is different for POC women. The only other actionable useful advice I see in this thread is the job-hopping every 2-3 years to more senior roles. The exposure to executive leaders at other companies will help you with that.

The sad truth is that things like making yourself invaluable, being super competent, taking credit, being visible, showing interest (ha!), getting mentors, being the go-to for your boss, all of that gets ignored and taken for granted when you’re a POC woman. I’ve seen it happen far too often. None of that gets you promoted. Maybe a pat on the back, if that, but not internal promotions.

[Anonymous]

1) find a mentor. Not your boss, but some who is successful and more senior than you who will meet with you regularly and help your development.
2) find sponsors. Could be your boss or not. These are people above you who will advocate for you and suggest your name for opportunities when they come up in senior meeting. These are the people who advocate for your advancement.
3) Get involved in a class or leadership program for women or POC. This will help you grow into your career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fastest way is to move jobs every 2-3 years and make sure you get title and comp increases at each one.

+1 (speaking as a woman)

Maybe not every 2-3 years, but always be looking and be ready to go if a better opportunity comes around.

Also, take every single opportunity for visibility (talking at conferences, seek out leadership roles in professional organizations). This signals that you aren’t there to grind it out and you want more.

Keep good relationships with bosses at prior jobs - keeps your network more robust.

Sadly, being really really good at your job isn’t necessary. In fact, if you are hyper competent then it can threaten your superiors, who will then take it out on you. And no point in trying to be irreplaceable; as management sees it, everyone can be replaced.

+1 million

Everything else on this thread is situational, not a constant formula. I am in a place now where they want me to move at half the pace of my previous job which waned me to move 2x the pace.

Invest in yourself, build a perosnal brand, get an exec coach and move every 2 years.

Learnt all this too late in life.

[Anonymous]

Don’t have kids.

-Mom of 3 who is undoubtedly not fast tracked

[Anonymous]

What if you are a woman in an office of women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you are a woman in an office of women?

x100000000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you are a woman in an office of women?

OP here. I am a POC woman in a team full of white women

[Anonymous]

Be prepared to toss anyone under the bus in order to not only save your skin, but to get seven steps ahead of the next person.