ModelExpand’s How to Advocate for Yourself at Work Event Recap
Advocating for yourself at work comes in many forms, such as asking for a raise, establishing a career path with the help of a mentor, or tracking your accomplishments to show impact in your organization. As you grow in your company, it is important to create a plan and a foundation to help you advocate for yourself and succeed!
This month, ModelExpand’s #WomeninLeadershipBreakfast Series hosted a panel of industry leaders from Slack, Google, Humane, and Industrial Light & Magic, a Lucasfilm company to discuss this very topic. You can find the recording below as well as tools and resources to build your roadmap for career advancement.
Click play to watch the Event Recording Below!
Tip #1: Learn how to effectively advocate for yourself
Think about what you’re asking for - challenge, money, opportunity. Document what you’re doing and share with your boss in a regular cadence - plant those seeds so they have their sentiments about you. You can also have a monthly check-in about your career and get feedback on how you’re doing. Once you feel ready, you’ll have a more targeted conversation
Tip #2: Define your roadmap to career advancement
Do you know the steps you can take to get you to the next level? You can develop skills for advancement with informational interviews - look at people within company, their levels, and chat about skills needed. Reach out to folks outside company to. Build strong authentic connections - enjoy the experience and create meaningful relationships.
Tip #3: Does your work equal your salary?
If you’re looking into negotiating a salary increase or wage adjustment, do your research and be thoughtful about it. Look at existing similar roles on internet (ex: job bands), historically look at job description and be self aware of how you’re doing, see what your peers are earning/transparency. Have a conversation with your manager and/or HR team for support. Don’t take it personally as there are many different factors that go into adjustments - advocate for yourself the best you can while assuming good intentions. Help your team become your partners!
Tip #4: Overcome imposter syndrome
We all feel this way at some point. You can reframe it as a positive and a sign you’re going in the right direction and pushing yourself. It’s a skill like anything else - ask for what you need and want, and be transparent about what you want to do, and even if I’m not there yet, it’s a step to what I want. Leaning into your strengths and how they can help you. See how your strengths can make your weaknesses stronger.
Tip #5: Change your environment if needed!
If you’re not learning at the pace you want or getting paid your worth - it might be time to move on and make a change. Find a group or team of people where you have that support and growth opportunity. Interviewing and putting yourself out there is empowering - it can be daunting, but also gratifying in talking about yourself; practice run. Don’t hold yourself back.
You can find resources here mentioned during ModelExpand’s #WomeninLeadershipBreakfast Series event.
Enjoyed this event? Sign up for the next Women in Leadership Breakfast series on Learning to Influence Key Stakeholders happening on May 20th from 9-10am PST. Register below!
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