I am a professional with over 20 years broad experience in my industry.

10 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 25,2021 at 12:09PM UTC

   I learned to tie all answers and plans back to the goals of the company so that whatever I worked on or delivered was directly related to the company's goals and strategy. That way my results were strategic results and since I articulated these strategic results in a macro or high-level context, I clearly presented myself as operating on a senior level.

   It's just a matter of perspective really. Clearly you know your job and have delivered excellent results. But you must paint the picture as to how and why you got there. That strategic and senior level work.

2. AnonymousNovember 27,2021 at 1:18AM UTC

   This was for an external position but I sense this is what has been holding me back in my current work, and in previous roles. What is frustrating is that I do do the strategic work and thinking, and get the results, and ladder up the strategy developed to the overall business objectives, but clearly I am not communicating this effectively or concisely enough for it to be seen. Currently I am working with a less strategic person who is being elevated above me, taking my ideas and my work, and positioning it as their own. She is a great communicator and a manipulator. She is best friends with the CEO so that creates it's own dynamics. The CEO I work with is extremely controlling (she doesn't think she is) and hence to manage her I feel Iike I'm playing small as she gets aggressive otherwise. It could be that in doing this I have brought this 'being small' into my interviews which I must shake off. My aim was to stay with the current employer and not let it affect me while I find another position. I am now realising it is affecting me and I have some work to do on staying empowered, ready for a new role or to step out on my own. It is both exciting and filled with fear of 'what if's'.

   I've been doing work over the years and realise I've played the 'good girl' for so long. Played small not to upset others. I've realised it is part of my history - my parents are refugees and it is in their behaviour too, my family fleeing from Syria over 100 years ago and were second class citzen's in the country they settled in. Then my parents immigrated to where we are now. I never realised where this imposter syndrome came from until recently. I am now determined to 'step into my light' (a phrase that came to me when I turned 40). I want to be a positive example to my children and I want to live my life fully and courageously. I am realising this may mean leaving my place of work and trusting my abilities to gain income elsewhere. This gives a bigger picture and context to my situation.

3. AnonymousNovember 28,2021 at 6:39PM UTC

   you've got your own answer, friend.
   you said: "The CEO I work with is extremely controlling (she doesn't think she is) and hence to manage her I feel Iike I'm playing small as she gets aggressive otherwise. It could be that in doing this I have brought this 'being small' into my interviews which I must shake off. My aim was to stay with the current employer and not let it affect me while I find another position. I am now realising it is affecting me and I have some work to do on staying empowered, ready for a new role or to step out on my own.

4. Clydene HorriganNovember 27,2021 at 1:37PM UTC

   Two thoughts on this. First, I’d suggest a mentor. Find someone who is really good at being seen in the way you want to be seen. I don’t mean like the coworker you mentioned, but someone who does the work and earned the respect in a way you admire. Second, find someone who you can practice interviewing with who has experience hiring or managing people in at the level you want to work and who will give you honest feedback on how your answers and demeanor come off during the interview. This could be the same person if they are not in your company. Best of luck in your search and in your growth journey.

5. GirlBossanova934974November 27,2021 at 2:04PM UTC

   "Strategic and Senior" are very subjective terms. For a person with 25 years of business experience, 10 years of business experience may be junior. Likewise if you have not worked in a SPECIFIC industry or SPECIFIC role title for more than X years, that might also be considered junior. From what you have stated, "responses I gave to questions were not in-depth enough", I am not sure if seniority is the issue here. My interpretation is that the company wanted more NUMBERS and more in-depth descriptions of what you had done. More "nitty gritty" if you will. The fear from the employer and supervisor is real. I myself have been involved in hiring a senior manager whom we thought had all the day to day experience and the "the secret sauce" required to do the job. We found that the new hire in question in reality had relied upon consultants and his staff to do 90% of the work. He was just carrying the Powerpoints around........A few months down the road, I was unofficially "given" the job to do what we had hired this person to do. 9 months after that, the CEO demanded the firing of that new hire. The CEO's words? "He is called the Bus Driver but he does not know how to drive the Bus?!!

6. AnonymousNovember 28,2021 at 6:37PM UTC

   ...and there's that. ^^

7. Rosa E HearnNovember 27,2021 at 2:22PM UTC

   Appear=CONFIDENCE.
   Own your worth and bring the gravitas.

   It's my experience some women sabotage themselves. Example, do you put at the end of an email "What do you think?" Underminding your own opinion. Without specifics, it's hard to pin point how to help you, but make sure you have confidence in your work and especially in YOU.

8. AnonymousNovember 27,2021 at 2:38PM UTC

   Have you applied for multiple positions with the same feedback? What one company's hiring management team might view as inexperience may be the perfect fit for another. I would recommend on your resume and in interviews to be yourself. Be honest and proud of what you have accomplished. Ask questions about what is important to you. Interviews can be compared to first dates... to determine if it has the potential to develop into a relationship. Best of luck!

9. AnonymousNovember 27,2021 at 9:31PM UTC

   If multiple people tell you one thing and another says something that is the opposite, who are you going to believe in any situation? You will likely believe the masses; however, when we are the topic of discussion, it makes it difficult to be subjective.

   I would do the following:
   1) I would not take it too personally at this juncture
   2) I would ask for additional feedback in writing
   3) I would ask my Manager for a progression plan with clear, measurable goals and benchmarks - this will show that both parties are invested in your career and want you to stay
   4) If there are any tests, CTE, or accreditations that you can easily obtain to help your career, boost your self-esteem, add to your value as an employee (even if it is just appearance and won't change performance), then go after any and everything!
   5) Don't be afraid to take risks and get noticed. When done correctly, it will catapult your career faster than anything else you can do. Senior management loves out of the box, creative thinkers who understand not only the job that needs to be done, but how it can be done better and is willing to take charge and make it happen. Process improvement is highly valued - even if you start small.

   Maybe you can start with banding positions, putting in a grade system, reworking the appraisal process to include peer reviews, and building a mentorship program with a clear path of progression. That should only take a few hours. ;) It took me a team and a year! It was my largest, most difficult, comprehensive plan. I haven't ever heard so many adults say, "But that's not fair!"

10. AnonymousNovember 28,2021 at 6:35PM UTC

    are your prior comments, you being described as being "senior" and "strategic", coming from the same management/organization to which you've currently applied, or past relationships? Although this makes little difference in this moment, it might be meaningful if two different viewpoints are coming from the same employer now. Regardless, it sounds like their feedback to you is vague...but you're asking for contructive ideas to improve thyself. Can you think of some on your own? Do you feel supported in your attempts to "grow where you're at" (yes or no?). In my own experience, i've found that doors/opportunities for growith closing on me (or a peer) were signs to move on. Indeed, unless your current employers feedback is marked with alot of "we'll help you get there", etc....you might consider looking for new work.