WITH Women's Day around the corner, Sandra Burmeister, CEO of the Landelahni Recruitment Group, says it is time for women to fight against outdated policies and practices in the workplace.
Here are a few tips from Burmeister for taking control of your career:
Understand your true value. This is the sum of your certifications and degrees, experience, skills and capabilities;
Keep your knowledge current through training and development programmes;
Look for sponsors who can help you further your career, and take advantage of any coaching and mentoring opportunities;
Put as much time into managing your career as you put into doing your job;
Track your outputs and achievements linked to key responsibilities, report them regularly, and use them as a portfolio when evaluating promotion opportunities;
Keep up to date with current issues by reading industry magazines and newsletters, and joining blogs or online groups;
Be open about making your career aspirations known, and be proactive in advancing your career;
Put yourself forward, learn to negotiate for yourself, and volunteer opinions;
Raise your hand for new assignments and initiatives and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty;
Get better at building relationships. Build networks at the office as well as in your personal life;
Keep your work and private life separate - at work and on the internet. Never post anything on your Facebook or LinkedIn pages that you wouldn't want your colleagues to see;
Be confident in projecting your authority rather than wanting to be seen as "nice";
Be prepared to take reasonable risks and don't miss opportunities through fear of making mistakes;
Get to understand the politics of the organisation and your place in it. Understand how to pull the top team together and how to lobby for support;
Study part time in accounting and technical areas, so you can move into roles that have operational and financial responsibilities;
Start your own business at home while raising children and re-enter the workplace with new and updated skills.
Be resilient and tenacious.
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