Six tips for career advancement from successful female Goodlordians

Are you looking to succeed in business? Many of our female Goodlordians have found success in their fields. In celebration of International Women's day, here are just a few of their top business tips, insights and advice to help you get ahead in your career - regardless of your gender.

You'll gain confidence with experience

You may not be confident from day one, but as you gain experience in your role, you'll make headway. "These things can take time, so you need to trust yourself and your instincts," says Evie Little, Customer Success Manager.

This can mean putting yourself forwards for things outside your comfort zone, but that shouldn't stop you from trying. "Throw your hat into the ring for things you don't necessarily tick all the boxes for - interviewing is experience in and of itself - and find what helps you feel self-confident," says Ella-Jane Coxwell, Senior Customer Success Manager.

Believing in yourself will then convince others of your abilities. "You need to know wholeheartedly that you're good at your job before anyone else will believe you," says Christa Bicego, Director of Marketing. "Once you have that, you need to remind people how good you are - and often. Confidence in your ability also makes it easier to know you deserve to be where you are or have the conversations when you know it's time for your next step - you shouldn't wait for 'the right time' to have these conversations."

Be ready for change

Leanne Edmonds, Support Hero, works in customer service and says that it's "a very fast paced environment and you have to be willing and able to adapt to changes everyday."

As well as an ability to react to changes, you can also take a proactive approach by choosing to undertake new experiences. "Seek out new opportunities," says Elise Page, Senior Customer Success Manager. "Saying yes can help you get ahead, and you can treat every experience as a chance for your learning and development."

This can mean a pivot within your career as well, as Andrea Warmington, Senior Content Manager at Goodlord, explains. "Don't limit yourself to pursuing a certain career just because that's where you started out - skills are transferable and you can always learn more. I began my career in traditional media with the goal of being a successful journalist, but I decided that I would take a shot at a role in digital content at a bank. It opened up an entirely new career path to me that I'm not only incredibly passionate about now, but I wouldn't have known existed otherwise!"

Speak your mind

You may find yourself in situations where everyone around you has an opinion, but that doesn't make yours any less valid. "Don't be afraid to show your strong side and don't get swayed by too many opinions," says Nilaxi Maken, Reference Support Team Leader. "The key to building strong working relationships is being you."

This is the same whatever level you are in the business. "You shouldn't be ashamed or afraid of being good at something and should always voice your opinion no matter your level of seniority," says Ania Grzybowska, Product Operations.

Find, and show, your interest and passion

Showing your passion and your interest in what you do can be infectious, and help enthuse others that you work with. "When you show your passion, others will want to work with you and help you," says Frankie Malpass, Product Manager.

You can of course be passionate about your current area of expertise, but you can diversify into other areas that your interests lie. "When you find out what you are interested in, ask for advice from seniors as to the possible routes to get into these fields," says Asia Tillotson, Customer Operations Executive. "Whether it starts off with a smaller project, or develops into being a stakeholder for a different department, take any opportunity you get to build on the skills that are required for that field. Even if they don't perfectly align, building on that skillset will help you get where you want to be."

Find a like-minded mentor

"The biggest thing that helped me was finding like-minded people and others in the industry to point me in the right direction, for courses to take and things to learn," says Chelsea Hilditch, Support Engineer. "For women specifically, I'd suggest taking a look at Wagora, a 'community dedicated to empower, connect and advance women working or aspiring to work in the tech industry'."

You should also find someone to support you in your general self-development. "Imposter syndrome can really hamper your progress so talk to someone who can help you manage that better - because you are good enough," says Maria Lloyd, Insurance Development Manager.

Having that support is particularly important when working in a field like tech. "We do need to bridge the gap between men and women in the tech industry and there are loads of programmes out there that help push for equality within the field too," says Shanae Cassells, Customer Support Apprentice. "Push barriers by asking for help or communicating to someone you already know that may be in the field already, ask for guidance and advice as no question is a silly one."

Work hard and don't set barriers for yourself

"The only person stopping you from achieving something is you, so don't create barriers for yourself," says Leah Ellis, Head of People and Talent. "You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it - don't let stereotypes or the norm stop you from wanting more."

Lauren Hughes, Head of Customer Success, says that it's all about "lots of graft" - but you should also make sure that you're in the right business. "I started initially in a much more corporate environment, which taught me a lot but ultimately wasn't the right place for me and for my development. The company has to work for you as much as you work for it."

Want to advance in your career? Check out the jobs we have available.