Episode Transcript
You’re a great engineer with a promising career. I already know that. You know it too.
Many other people should know it, but don’t. Mostly because you haven’t told them.
It’s important for the right people to know about you and your work. And it’s important that they hear it from you.
Today’s episode is about self-advocacy and career messaging. I want to give you more insights on this because it has a huge impact on your engineering career success.
I have lots to share in the podcast. PLUS you’ll get a free download that covers what’s in this episode, and more.
Self-advocacy and career messaging are important skills for your engineering career. If you’re like I was, you’re not that into self-advocacy. And career messaging is sort of nice to have. But not something you want to spend a lot of your time on.
And if so, I hope I can help change your mind. Career messaging is key to your engineering career success. And self-advocacy is the way people learn about you. About your interests, abilities and aspirations.
And here’s the thing:
When people learn about you, they help you get places. They help draw opportunities for you. They help you make the right connections.
You can’t do this on your own. As much as you may think otherwise, you can’t do this career thing all on your own.
It seems so obvious now. But I could not see this in my early career. I was a keep-my-head-down-and-do-my work kind of engineer. An I-can-do-it-myself person.
I thought spending time talking about what I do was a waste of time. And I had no clue about career messaging.
I still wonder what would have happened if somebody had set me straight on this.
Promoting yourself and putting your career message out there gets ideas moving around. It encourages belonging. It helps with networking. And it brings you feedback and information.
And – bonus – you’ll be helping to clarify your vision in your own mind.
Myths and Realities of Career Messaging for Women Engineers
Some women engineers are good at career messaging and self-advocacy. But in my experience, most are not. Most think it’s not necessary or find it difficult.
Here are some myths and realities about your work as an engineer:
Myth: Everyone at work knows about you and the work you’re doing.
Reality: People don’t know about you unless you tell them. And if you don’t tell them about you, they make up their own stories about you.
Even though you feel very visible, people don’t pay that much attention. They’re busy and can’t follow everything you do.
Myth: Self-advocacy is self-indulgent. And career messaging is just bragging.
Reality: Self-advocacy and career messaging are expected of you as an engineer looking to make a contribution and realize a successful career.
People need you to share your work successes and aspirations so they can learn from you and find places where you can help meet the mission of the organization.
Myth: If you can just do your job, your career will fall into place.
Reality: Self-advocacy plays a significant role in your engineering career. It has long term, positive impacts on your career.
Practicing self-advocacy through career messaging increases the likelihood of reaching your goals and even surpassing them.
I’ve put together a how-to brochure for you called “A Woman Engineer’s Guide for Self-Advocacy and Career Messaging.” You can get your free copy here or click the button at the end of the transcript.
It’s got a bunch of ideas for advocating for yourself and getting your career message out there. Lots of specific suggestions on how to practice this. I know you’ll get a lot out of it. And there’s no cost to you. So be sure to check it out.
Let me give you a sneak peak of what’s in the guide.
3 Components of Self-Advocacy to Apply in Your Engineering Career
To get you started, here are 3 components of self-advocacy:
- Speaking Up. You’re hesitant, maybe because you want to be sure to say the right thing at the right time. Maybe because you’re afraid of how people will react to what you say.
But hesitation holds you back.
So think about speaking up as part of your job. It’s how you contribute your ideas and perspectives to enhance innovation and solve problems.
As you practice speaking up you’ll improve your ability to convey ideas, be tactful and persuade. It will help you gain trust and credibility. And grow your network.
- Being Heard. When you do share your ideas, you want to be listened to and acknowledged.
As you speak up more, you’ll refine your communication style. And you’ll get better at understanding others’ communications styles.
You’ll learn how to call it out when people interrupt you or talk over you. And you’ll garner support from colleagues who reinforce your perspectives and champion your ideas.
- Asking for What You Need and Want. You might have limiting beliefs about asking for what you need. But it’s a critical part – and an expectation – of your job.
You need resources to succeed and progress in your engineering career. Everyone does. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t ask for them.
A Clear and Strategic Career Message Drives Your Engineering Career Success
Career messaging is a form of self-advocacy. It’s a way to promote yourself and your work. You want to get what you deserve in your engineering career. And having a clear career message and communicating it will increase the chances of that.
You probably already have elements of your career message. Like your vision and aspirations. And your talents and accomplishments.
So now write your message out in a clear and concise format. Memorize it in various versions to share with influential people. And incorporate it into discussions in multiple settings.
Practice communicating your message so that there’s no diminishing language.
There is so much to talk about in this realm. There’s so much you can do to self-advocate and share your career message. We’ve only scratched the surface here.
Get the guide. And work with me to make this part of your job. It will raise satisfaction and speed the progress of your career.
I’d love to have a strategy session with you. Or work with you through my VIP program. A comprehensive approach to more influence and impact in your engineering career.
You can approach your career messaging practice as an experiment. Try it out in various situations and see what works.
Err on the side of more: Advocate for yourself more. Share your engineering career message more. Because people need to hear it multiple times. And because it will change as you grow.
Next time on Her Engineering Career Podcast we’ll talk about some strategies for dealing with difficult people. Be sure to tune in for Episode 79.