At Alaant, we strongly believe that equality, diversity and inclusivity are vital to a thriving workforce. In recognition of Women’s History Month and the key roles women play in the workplace, we are shining a spotlight on women in business – including the talented professionals at Alaant who work hard every day to serve our outstanding clients and candidates.
This week’s spotlight: The Women of Alaant – Part II
What are the most important things a woman can do for her career?
Amy Stringer, Manager, Operations & Talent
Women should embrace and own their career choice, no matter what they do. Women apologize too much for their actions in the workplace. Women in the workforce are amazing people, and they should be proud of themselves and their work.
Amy Alvarez, Director, Talent Acquisition
There are so many ways for a woman to advance her career. Here are a few ideas:
- Always keep learning. From continuing education to pursuing advanced degrees, if it will help you move up, pursue it.
- Be over prepared. At internal meetings, be ready with new ideas, thinking outside the box. For client meetings, do plenty of advanced research to understand their organization’s business and pain points.
- Get out of your comfort zone. Run a webinar, be a guest speaker, write a blog; if it’s a challenge, it will sharpen your skills.
- Follow influencers in your market. Tap into their expertise to build yours.
- Find a mentor in your company. Learn as much as you can from them to improve your own job performance.
- Always keep reading. From current trends and world issues to technology advancements and what your competition is doing, stay up to date.
- Always keep networking. You never know when new opportunities will present themselves.
Remember, your job is your CAREER – be passionate about it!
Abby Serfilippi, Resource Manager
The biggest thing a woman can do for her career is to take advantage of every opportunity. Whether it is attending events, joining networking groups, connecting with fellow professionals in your field on LinkedIn, or taking online training and seminars, do it all! There are so many outlets to promote your personal and career growth; try not to be shy or let “what ifs” prevent you from rising higher. Of course, it can be intimidating to try something new, but the only way you will feel more comfortable is by breaking out of your shell and doing these things. This is what I am doing since I am a recent graduate, new to my field, and have a lot to learn!
What are the biggest obstacles women face in the workplace?
Monica Sweeney, Resource Manager
There are a host of challenges that women encounter in the workplace. Among those I have seen or experienced are:
- Not being confident in our actions, and needing reassurance that our job performance is up to par with industry standards.
- Having a fear of being rejected by management.
- Not being given equal opportunity.
- Not being able to crack the glass ceiling. While more women are becoming leaders, there still aren’t as many leadership opportunities open to women.
- Being harassed by co-workers. This is one of the biggest obstacles women face in the workplace, but fortunately, awareness is becoming more prominent.
Women need to stand together to reduce the fear of addressing these issues, and to empower others who may be facing similar challenges.
What advice can you give to women when negotiating salary?
Denise Anderson, Manager, Talent & Human Resource Operations
Receiving fair compensation is important for every employee, but it can be particularly challenging for women. Here are some tips to help navigate the process of negotiating a salary that truly reflects your value to an employer.
- Be confident. The more confident you are, the more likely an employer will understand this is important to you. You need to project that confidence, showing that you know your worth, and that you provide value that your company needs.
- Go in prepared. What value have you offered to the company? Have you helped decrease expenses, or streamlined processes that in turn make others productive? Be ready to share examples of your accomplishments that demonstrate your importance to the company.
- Be realistic. Know the market for your job in your area. You don’t want to go in with the idea that you should be making the same as someone in a major city. Do some research and find the average salary range of your position in your region.
- Aim high. It is easier to come down than to start low and feel like you left money on the table. Also, think about other items that can be negotiated. Perhaps an employer can’t negotiate on salary, but can offer more PTO time, a flexible schedule or telecommuting option, or even a bonus.
In the end, you have to believe you are worth the money you’re asking for, and your past success must justify it. Good luck!
We are proud of our talented team members at Alaant, who bring unmatched skills, work ethic, compassion and integrity to the workplace every day. Thank you for the many contributions you make to our success!
