Most stories about women in the workplace always include how hard it is for women to make it to the top.
The reasons are myriad: the glass ceiling, unequal pay, and the delicate balancing act of career and family, especially once children enter the picture. But in my career, I have never once used being a woman as a crutch.
I began my career with Adecco more than 20 years ago as a branch manager, and at the time I could never have guessed that I would one day serve as president of its core staffing business, which accounts for the largest part of Adecco Group North America’s business. I didn’t work hard to prove that I can succeed as a woman in male-dominated corporate America. I worked, and continue to work hard, because I owe it to myself as a professional – who just happens to be a woman.
Make no mistake— there are still challenges for women in the workplace, even 40 years after we entered the workforce. But over the course of my career, I’ve learned that the key to success lies in what many would consider old fashioned values: hard work, determination and relationships with people. When I first began at Adecco, I was just one of the many in my position looking to take my career to the next level. The way I set myself apart was by being the one who was willing to go the extra mile and take on more work, often times when I wasn’t even asked. Telling my boss that XYZ “wasn’t in my job description” was not part of my vocabulary, and it shouldn’t be in yours either. Make it clear that you are always available to help with a task or pitch in on a project. It’s something that will make you invaluable to not only your team, but also to leadership. And that’s what helps you get noticed.