Are you a tech professional who wants to move up the ladder and become a manager? Do you feel like you have the skills and experience, but not the recognition or opportunity? If so, you are not alone. Many engineers and tech leads face the same challenge of proving their value and getting noticed by their leaders.
In this article, we will share some tips from Katie Delgado, VP of Engineering and author of the Hey Tech Lady series on Forbes. She recently wrote a post titled Hey Tech Lady: Promotion Pointers & How To Move Up The Ladder, where she answered a question from a senior engineer who was passed over for a promotion. Here are some of the key takeaways from her advice.
Ask For A Mentor
One of the best ways to learn from someone who has been in your shoes and achieved your goals is to ask for a mentor. A mentor can provide you with guidance, feedback, support, and connections that can help you grow and advance in your career.
Delgado says that she was lucky to have a great mentor early in her career, who saw her potential and helped her develop her skills and confidence. She says that she was surprised that she was not asked to be a mentor more often, and that she thinks many leaders would be happy to share their wisdom and experience with someone who shows initiative and interest.
She suggests that you find a leader who inspires you and ask them if you can shadow them or have regular meetings with them. She says that even if they decline, you will earn some respect for taking the initiative to ask.
Be A Fixer
Another way to demonstrate your value and potential is to be a fixer. A fixer is someone who identifies and solves problems that affect the department or the organization. A fixer does not just escalate issues or complain about them, but works to find the root cause and pitch their own solution.
Delgado says that being a fixer will make you stand out from the crowd and show your leadership skills. She says that you should look for opportunities to improve processes, meetings, communication, or anything else that needs improvement. She says that you should also document your achievements and share them with your manager and other leaders.
Share Your Knowledge
A third way to showcase your expertise and confidence is to share your knowledge with others. You can do this by hosting or participating in knowledge sharing sessions, such as lunch and learns, certification prep sessions, or webinars. You can also write articles, blogs, or newsletters on topics related to your field or industry.
Delgado says that sharing your knowledge will help you establish yourself as a subject matter expert, build your personal brand, and improve your soft skills. She says that you should also seek feedback from your audience and use it to improve your presentation skills.
Have A Plan
Finally, you should have a clear plan for your career development and promotion. You should ask your manager to share the required responsibilities for the role you want to move to, and evaluate yourself against them. You should also identify the areas where you need to improve, and have a tangible and measurable plan to do so.
Delgado says that having a plan will help you set realistic expectations, track your progress, and communicate your goals with your manager. She says that you should also ask for regular feedback from your manager and other stakeholders, and use it to adjust your plan as needed.
Moving up the ladder in tech is not easy, but it is possible with the right strategy and mindset. By following these tips from Katie Delgado, VP of Engineering and author of the Hey Tech Lady series on Forbes, you can increase your chances of getting promoted and becoming a manager in tech.
