Forget designer IT bags or lofty job titles; working women are now coveting flexibility and a sense of purpose in the workplace as the ultimate barometers of professional success.
But is it possible to set boundaries, advocate for more flexibility and still ascend the career ladder without ruffling too many feathers along the way?
A recent UK study found that while 92 per cent of women say they have set boundaries at work in an effort to prevent being micro-managed, and 70 per cent say they are ambitious in their careers, only 48 per cent would declare this in public.
Confidence gap
The reason for their reticence? Lack of self-belief is undoubtedly a prevailing factor (46 per cent), followed by a lack of opportunities (32 per cent).
This corresponds with data compiled by McKinsey for its annual Women in the Workplace study.
Despite the pandemic proving that balancing work and life was possible with more flexibility with regards to workplace location and the traditional nine to five, microaggressions rooted in bias—for example, others getting credit for the work done by women or being mistaken for someone more junior—continue to hold women back as they don’t feel supported or psychologically safe.
McKinsey’s research also uncovered that 78 per cent of women who face microaggressions self-shield or change the way they act and tone down what they say in an effort to protect themselves.
So, with all of the above at play, what can working women do to ensure they’re not only seen, heard and respected in the workplace, but get ahead?
Daily affirmations
While management should be tasked with ensuring their staff are not only being treated equally but given the same opportunities and treated the same way, the reality is that all employees, and not just female employees, need to take a proactive approach.
A good place to start is by keeping a log of all your achievements, no matter how small.
Perhaps you came up with an innovative new way to scale an aspect of the business or simply discovered a new productivity tool that will shave hours off your weekly workload.
By keeping a log of all your achievements, you’ll be able to see in black and white that you’re doing a good job, something that is essential when imposter syndrome creeps in and you feel like you’re not.
Additionally, an achievements log is a great resource to have in your arsenal when performance review season rolls around. Ideally your achievements will be rewarded, both professionally and financially but if your manager fails to recognise your contributions, it’s probably time to start weighing up your options.
If that includes a fresh start, The London Economic Job Board is the ideal place to focus your job search. It features thousands of jobs in companies that are actively hiring, including the three below.
Pre-Sales Project Manager, CGI, United Kingdom
Do you want to put yourself at the centre of the digital revolution? CGI is seeking a Project Manager to motivate highly talented agile teams to deliver complex projects. You’ll be responsible for planning, leading, organising, and motivating agile teams to achieve a high level of performance and quality in line with programme standards. You will also be responsible for software delivery using agile methods in a fast-paced environment that may cross multiple business units. Find out more here.
Systems Specialist, Fife Council, Glenrothes
Fife Council has an exciting opportunity for a Systems Specialist to join its Business Technology Solutions team. In this role you will manage the Council’s Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) and associated tools such as FME. You will work alongside other members of the team to support solutions and will be responsible for designing, building and supporting solutions deployed on the platforms. You will test and document solutions using agreed standards and tools and liaise with customers in the Council to specify requirements and offer your professional advice to them to provide effective business solutions. See the full job description here.
Application Support Analyst, Solutionpath, Leeds
Founded and grown by people with a genuine belief in helping people thrive in higher education, Solutionpath develops technologies which help institutions understand engagement, improve retention, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of their students. As an Application Support Analyst you will join the service desk team which supports universities in utilising its Student Engagement Analytics platform. Your role will involve providing customer service to all clients, triaging incoming support tickets and troubleshooting data related issues using SQL queries. Get more details here.
Accelerate your job hunt today by visiting The London Economic Job Board