#BOTHSIDES
Superstar
1. Play the game.
I used to think just keeping your head down and focusing on the work was the way to go. No!
You can be the smartest, hardest worker…They often aren’t the ones promoted…they’re usually pigeonholed or laid off. The ones who play the game move Up and move on
-go to the social events
-build relationships
-self promote (meaning talk about successes your team achieved. We just launched X)
-be visible- turn your camera on especially if others’ are on.
-meet your co workers especially if they have influence/power
-speak up in every meeting even if you’re only saying. “that’s a great point, Tom”
-volunteer for presentations
-prepare for who is going to be in the room
-never go to lunch alone
-have one on ones especially if they’re stakeholders and have power/influence/connections
-your presentation matters
-lose weight if u plus sized
-speak confidently and with conviction not wish washy
-network relentlessly
Edit: if you can get experience at one of the big 4 consulting companies: PwC, McKinsey, KMPG, Deloitte it helps get eyes on you later. My friend (who is blk for yall c00ns) got offers from OpenAI because he had a few of those companies on his resume.
-go for big name companies if you can. You’ll have ppl headhunting you later. You ain’t even gotta be that good, just having those names mean a lot
Background: I’m a blk man. Tech/corporate. Majority of my friends are blk professionals—Chicago, ATL, Baltimore, Charlotte, NYC, MN.
My ppl are consultants, software engineers, product managers, project managers, directors. Work for banks, Nike, healthcare, Accenture, etc.
Some have moved up and some haven’t. Some don’t want to which is fine. Some switch companies to earn more.
Those who have moved up played the game. Those who are higher up as managers tell me the problems they have with worker and what they look for and even how easy it is for the average worker to stand out if they’d follow things like being proactive and taking initiative and having good communication skills like keeping the manager updated instead of him chasing you down to find out.
I used to think just keeping your head down and focusing on the work was the way to go. No!
You can be the smartest, hardest worker…They often aren’t the ones promoted…they’re usually pigeonholed or laid off. The ones who play the game move Up and move on
-go to the social events
-build relationships
-self promote (meaning talk about successes your team achieved. We just launched X)
-be visible- turn your camera on especially if others’ are on.
-meet your co workers especially if they have influence/power
-speak up in every meeting even if you’re only saying. “that’s a great point, Tom”
-volunteer for presentations
-prepare for who is going to be in the room
-never go to lunch alone
-have one on ones especially if they’re stakeholders and have power/influence/connections
-your presentation matters
-lose weight if u plus sized
-speak confidently and with conviction not wish washy
-network relentlessly
Edit: if you can get experience at one of the big 4 consulting companies: PwC, McKinsey, KMPG, Deloitte it helps get eyes on you later. My friend (who is blk for yall c00ns) got offers from OpenAI because he had a few of those companies on his resume.
-go for big name companies if you can. You’ll have ppl headhunting you later. You ain’t even gotta be that good, just having those names mean a lot
Background: I’m a blk man. Tech/corporate. Majority of my friends are blk professionals—Chicago, ATL, Baltimore, Charlotte, NYC, MN.
My ppl are consultants, software engineers, product managers, project managers, directors. Work for banks, Nike, healthcare, Accenture, etc.
Some have moved up and some haven’t. Some don’t want to which is fine. Some switch companies to earn more.
Those who have moved up played the game. Those who are higher up as managers tell me the problems they have with worker and what they look for and even how easy it is for the average worker to stand out if they’d follow things like being proactive and taking initiative and having good communication skills like keeping the manager updated instead of him chasing you down to find out.
Last edited: