SFNet WISF Career Corner

This is a new feature providing advice from WISF members to young professionals on a specific topic.  We need your input.  If you have a question you would like to see answered in this column, please submit to Michele Ocejo at mocejo@sfnet.com.

Dear WISF,

“Once you are established within a job and/or have already experienced some degree of internal growth, what additional steps would you recommend to continue career growth and development? Early in the career, there are multiple paths and opportunities an early career individual can pursue.  However, once in the mid-level, the continued growth opportunities may not be as bountiful.”

From Arlene Bonnet, TD Bank

This is an important question as it reflects what happens when women reach that mid-level and are not sure what is next.  When I had interviewed 12 senior executives, the majority reported that internal talent management, mentoring, and advocacy are not particularly supportive of efforts to progress within the organization. 

Some advice that these women had shared included the following:

1.         Is you direct line manager a strong advocate?  Some are and some are not.  If additional lift and support is needed, perhaps the direct line manager can recommend a senior person (or even make a soft introduction) that is in an area to which you aspire.  This person may be your direct line manager's manager, or a manager in another area.

2.         Asking your direct line manager to advocate for you when they meet with their leadership team is useful as opportunities for involvement arise.  What your leadership says when you are not in the room is often more important than what they say when you are in the room.

3.         During an upcoming performance/career planning session with your direct line manager, seek out actionable feedback on any potential gap areas or suggestions on how to position yourself for a new role or expanded responsibility. 

4.         Involvement in non-for-profit, community-based organizations or industry-focused networks (such as SFNet) are great opportunities.  Establishing yourself as a volunteer board member is a great way to expand/develop your skill set to position yourself for your next move.

5.         Strengthen your external network (as you have already done) to explore opportunities outside of your organization should you not receive the level of support and advocacy that you seek.

6.         Have a strategy.  Spend the time to plan out your next couple of moves.  Career planning is rarely linear.  Create a couple ways of positioning yourself for the next move.

From Licia Jacques, North Mill Capital:

Volunteer for projects or committees that might be slightly outside of your job description.  When we looked at different options to replace some software, I volunteered to be on the demos.  I got more face time with my manager and the vendors, plus got to share my opinions on the current software and proposed options with the whole management team.  I learned more about what options are out there, that my colleagues who didn’t volunteer didn’t get to see.

I understand this one won’t be an option for everyone, but when we acquired another company a few years ago, I volunteered to be on the “advance team.”  It wasn’t a promotion and it was a TON of extra work for me, but I got to meet the management team of the target company, help my managers gain an understanding of the day-to-day operations of the target company, set the plan for integrating our systems, and get to know my new colleagues better than had I not been on the advance team.

Lastly: join and volunteer for industry groups like SFNet!  Get to meet different people both inside and outside your organization and from all different levels.  I’ve found it’s also a good way to break the ice with the senior people at my company because they’ve held committee leadership positions in the groups.

From Miin Chen, Siena Lending Group:

I would look towards education and if there are any gaps or additional credentials that can be completed that can help with the career path that you are on.  In addition, partnering with mentors both internally and externally can be helpful too.  Sometimes talking to someone outside of your organization will give you fresh perspectives on what you can apply or adapt.