17 women on getting the job, growing a paycheck, getting ahead

17 women on getting the job, growing a paycheck, getting ahead17 women on getting the job, growing a paycheck, getting aheadEveryone wants advice from the most successful businesswomen out there Sheryl Sandberg. Indra Nooyi. Meg Whitman.But anyone would be smart to take advice from a little closer to home, too your boss, your coworkers, your professional connections. No matter the level, industry, or location, we can all learn something from each other.Business Insider surveyed women across various industries about their advice for others. Responses ranged from advice on knowing your worth to effectively communicating your imagination to a team. For exampleRemember that getting your job welchesnt a fluke. You deserve to be there.Keep a list of your accomplishments and skills so you can refer back.If youre dreading a job or project, you arent being paid enough.Dont give up your life for a job.Below, read 17 different womens best career advice, lightly edited for clarityFind your advoc ates, and take a seat at the tableFind your advocates.As women, we often have to work twice as hard for our performance to be recognized. Participating in teams, committees, even if it doesnt pertain to your role, will help build a network of advocates of varying levels across the organization.Always expect your name will come up when youre not in the room - the mora advocates you have, the more people will root for you when opportunities arise.And always take a seat at the table. You deserve to be there.- Jen, 30, New York CityDirector of Sales working in Adtech/MediaDont work for freeFor new entrepreneurs, do not work for free or undervalue yourself You are more than capable and qualified.Too many times departureing out I said yes to a low-ball offer or free work for the mere possibility of leads, only to end up spending far too much time on a project that yielded too little compensation.I heard a thought one time If you wake up in the morning dreading working on a project, you asked for too little money, and that couldnt be more true. If you feel valued, the work never feels like a drag.As a new entrepreneur (or even more experienced), lack of confidence is common after the initial excitement wears off. Its easier to feel confident as an employee because you receive regular feedback on your quality of workmanship. Dont let fear of failure drive you to accept less than youre worth.- Stacey, 28, Austin, TexasBusiness Owner Nutrition Communications MediaRecognize who is on your teamWhen someone is on your team, they are on your team for life.I am a big networker, and recently someone I really admire told me he was on my team. I took this to mean I did not need to try as hard to impress him - he was already impressedInevitably in professional relationships and in networking youll transition from wanting to impress someone to being their friend, or at least someone they respect and like. Recognize when that transition happens and breathe a sigh of relief I keep a list of people who are on my team and look to them for support and advice, as well as professional advancement.- Alex, 30, Hilton Head Island, South CarolinaAssociate AttorneyFocus on your impactOne key mindset shift that will support living your best life and career is to focus less on achieving titles, external shoulds, and cultural norms, and instead focus on, What contribution are you making? in all areas of your life.f you are contributing in a way thats in line with your strengths and values, you will ultimately make momentous progress and create deep fulfillment and meaningful impact.- Sarah, 37, SeattleExecutive Coach + Business Consultant, Leadership Development/Executive DevelopmentDont be swayed by brandingChoose the people, not a fancy company name.- Jen, 40ish, New York CityMarketingKnow your worth, and dont accept anything lessThere are plenty of articles, research pieces, and self-help books telling women to assert themselves in the workforce, both in terms of taking on responsibility and requesting proper compensation for our work.But women are still not taking this far enough I could talk about the societal reasons why we struggle with this forever. However, I will stick to the advice Do your job well, ask for a raise every year, act on the promotion when the opportunity arises, and if your employer isnt responding to your requests, then get a new job.Because I can guarantee you there are plenty of other employers out there who will see your value immediately upon interview and offer you more money, better benefits, and a more fitting title. We need to increase the amount of women in high level positions in all sectors, and it could be you.- Aileen, 25, New York CityPublic Sector/Local GovernmentIf you dont like something, change itBe confident. In your presence, your ideas, your position. And, if you dont like something, change it.- Anonymous, 29, Portland, OregonMarketing ManagerKnow your optionsAcknowledge that you dont know wha t you dont know and speak with as many diverse professionals as you can to understand your career options.- Lydia, 30, San FranciscoTech directorIts OK to make mistakesIts OK to make mistakes, but learn from them and keep moving forward. Dont be lazy. And never give up.- Bouchra, 30, New York CityFashion Tech CEOKeep track of your accomplishmentsWe tend to forget how good we are at things, so keep a list of all the achievements you have ever accomplished and it will help you to remember how great you actually are. It helps you raise your confidence and trust yourself.- Christine, 34, LuxembourgHealth and wellness entrepreneurYou deserve your jobGetting your job wasnt a fluke. You deserve to be there, and earned it just as much as the person sitting next to you. You cant let impostor syndrome stop you from being your best.Also, side hustles and personal projects keep you sane, independent, and passionate.- Navah, 24, New York City Marketing AssociateDont wait for permission to go after what you wantDont wait for anyone else to give you permission to go after what you want.I spent a full year trying to apply for the type of position I wanted when I was trying to break into professional writing. It was also a full year of hearing nothing, or going to interviews only to be told no.I finally realized that I was wasting my time trying to prove myself to hiring managers, or convincing someone to take a shot on me and let me show how good I was. I quit sending in applications (and getting rejected), hung out my shingle as a freelance writer, and hustled hard.In less than a year after I decided to take a chance on myself instead of waiting for someone else to give me permission to start doing what I loved, I made three times as much as I earned in my day job, quit, and became a full-time freelance writer and content marketer. And Ive never looked back. Dont wait for someone else to say, you can do this or give you a chance. Get out there and prove it for yourself.A lso, all the advice in the world may not be able to teach you as much as experience. Sometimes, the only way to figure this stuff out is to go out there, screw up, and learn from that failure.Other peoples advice can help you avoid making the same mistakes, but sometimes you need to go out there and totally flop before you really get it on a deep level. Dont be afraid of that flop. Just be mindful, and seek to understand what failures can teach you, or show you about yourself.- Kali, 28, BostonMarketingWith discomfort comes growthIve made the most career advancement when I have been most uncomfortable. Remind yourself as you are pushing through the tough times that with discomfort comes growth.And never be afraid to admit what you dont know Its my most overused expression I dont know what I dont know. Embrace it- Suzanne, 46, New York CityPersonal finance SVPEmpathize with your coworkersThings are not always as they appear. You can use empathy to identify or validate what you susp ect with team members, peers, and leaders in the workplace.- Patricia, mid-career, SeattleBusiness and leadership development consultantMake your vision a shared oneWhen it comes to leading a team, it is important to get buy-in to both short-term and long-term initiatives. Day-to-day tasks will become more motivating to employees if they understand how their responsibilities play into the bigger picture. It is key to outwardly and consistently communicate this vision so that it becomes a shared one.As women, it is important to advocate for ourselves. If you are a startup founder or an employee of a company, you must be willing to continuously share your value to stakeholders.- Jasmine, 27, ChicagoTechnology cofounder and CEOBe the leader you look up toShow up, be prepared, stay consistent, and youll be ready when an opportunity comes your way.If you dont like public speaking, work on it. This is a skill almost anyone will need at some point in time and you want to feel confident w hen you need to speak in front of a group.Be the leader you look up to. A good leader lifts the group moral and wants members to succeed.Always have confidence (even if you need to fake it a little). Confidence is important.- Caroline, 29, New York CityPsychotherapist in private practice and group fitness instructorMore work doesnt mean better workYour worth is often defined by someone else in your career, and you may have no control over how they see you or value you and your skills.There may be times when youve worked your socks off, went above and beyond, and you feel like its shoved back in your face. Learn from that. Dont undersell yourself, and dont believe anyone who undervalues you. You may be stuck with their decision for a while, but dont take that belief and make it your own.Also, you can do an excellent job without giving up all of your spare time and jumping through a million hoops. The idea that the longer you work, the better job you do or the more you deserve a pay rise or promotion, is outdated. Research shows that we work better and produce stronger work when we work less and have regular breaks. Dont give up your life for a job.- Danielle, 38, Newcastle Upon Tyne, EnglandDigital absatzwirtschaft managerThis article first appeared on Business Insider.