Make Your Mark & Get Ahead 

You show up on time, you always finish your work, you never take more than an hour for your break, no personal calls on office time – you do so many things right... but still, it's just not enough to get the guys upstairs to notice you.

What do you do when you want to get noticed at the workplace?

As a woman ("here we go, the old 'glass ceiling' routine") you are forced to face a number of obstacles that your male counterparts do not. Call us "bra burners: if you like, but we're only stating facts.

Standing out at work is a challenging task. How can you do it? And how can you do it while still maintaining your integrity?

Sure, you've got great legs, and you bat a nice lash, but in 2011 (and realistically, since at least 1975) your body of work should speak louder than, well, your body.

Don't let the male (be he alpha, or nay) bring you down. If you want that promotion... TAKE IT!

Here are a few tips that will help you to take hold of your destiny, and own it:

Dress The Part
We know, we know...  We were just saying "don't use your looks to get ahead" but clothing is, yes, actually important. If you had to hire a lawyer based on their attire alone, would you hire the guy that takes care of his appearance – shined shoes, ironed suit, clean shaven – or the one whose suit is baggy and wrinkled with scuffed shoes and an unshaven chin? You'd probably go with the one who looks put together, because if he can take care of himself, chances are he can take care of his job. The point? Appearances are very important - when you take pride in your appearance, people notice, and want you to represent their brand, their company, their mandate. 

Be a Team Player
It maybe be that you work well on your own, but employers are always looking for people who work well with others. Getting along with your co-workers and accepting their ideas, opinions, etc., is key to being successful in the work place. You may be bright, but two heads are always better than one. Everyone brings different strengths to the table – recognize what yours are, and take time to recognize your weaknesses. Knowing yourself is the best way to figure out how you might be an asset to someone else.

Be Dependable
Employers look for people who are consistent and dependable – you turn your work in on time, you don't call in sick often, you can be counted on to produce results on a regular basis, you are eager to be available when you are needed. You want your employers to feel that they can bring you any task or project and it will be done on time and to the best of your ability every time. Of course, don't make yourself TOO available, or they will take advantage of you. Sad fact, but too true.

Participate Fully
In a big room full of bright people, it's all too easy to feel intimidated. It's so important to remember that you got this job for a reason. Most employers are more let down by their own bad choices (i.e. hiring an ill-suited employee), rather than an employee who offers a bad suggestion. Take a chance. Sharing opinions and offering ideas shows that you are interested and active in your work environment. Employers want to know that you care about the work you do and their company. Prove to them that this job is important to you, even if you view it as only a stepping stone to greater success. The more they feel like you are invested, the more likely they will promote you. Make a bad suggestion? SO what. They'll certainly remember you for trying.

Get Your Learn On
You may have the best degree that post-secondary education can offer, but learning something new on the job can lead to better opportunities within that company, or even outside of it. The act of learning is not just reserved for an academic setting. To be the best we can be, we must learn every day. Although they may not offer monetary inscentives for cross-training, when the time comes for you to ask for a promotion, a raise or even are applying for a new position within the company or externally, you will be a few steps ahead of your competitors because of the knowledge you've absorbed, and the steps you've taken to expand your skill set. For example, a cashier who also knows how to merchandise as well as work in different retail departments is more likely to be offered a supervisor position than a cashier who only stays on cash.  A bank teller who also knows how to factor out a mortgage is more likely to move up than a teller who can simply smile and count cash.
 
Go Above And Beyond
Do you remember how good it felt to complete your list of household chores... and then do one more task out of the kindness of your heart? Garbage, dishes, dog-walking. And then, just for good measure, mow the lawn to show that you care.  This applied too to the work place – going the extra mile to please a client or your employer shows that you have initiative and drive, and that you're interested in advancement within the company.

Image from MorgueFile

Hilary Lauren Fox
		About the author:
		Sometimes she's a redhead, sometimes she's a blonde. Some days it's H&M, and on other days, it's Chanel. What ever the mood, she is a woman who is passionate about the arts, fashion and social media. Born in Toronto, Hilary Lauren Fox is an only child to artist parents - mom was an illustrator and pattern maker, dad was a painter.  Rather then studying the arts as her parents hoped for, Hilary opted for a degree in psychology with dreams of working in a clinical setting. But after graduating she realized that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that the arts was in her blood, applying her education within the art and fashion world.
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