We know that it is not always easy for a woman to break into the world of work as quickly as men. Internalized sexism, lack of self-confidence, impostor syndrome, sometimes even discrimination… It is difficult to dare to assert ourselves when our true value is not recognized.
To put an end to the barriers that prevent us from moving forward (and because it is at this moment that many companies are organizing the famous annual evaluation interviews), Sarah Zitouni, feminist career coach and author of Boost your career. How to succeed in professional life without losing your skin (edited by Hugo Image) gives us some tips and advice for making a difference and deconstructing the bullshit that cripples your ambitions.
Forget your prejudices
At 32 years old, Sarah Zitouni (aka Powher_ta_carrière on Instagram) is not only a feminist coach, she is also one of the rare women to hold the position of strategist in the automotive industry.
“At 21 I started my first job, working in mechanical research. And obviously I have no idea how the world of work works, especially since my parents are workers. »
Without any structure or guidance, Sarah Zitouni loses her balance. Six months after being hired, she suffered a breakdown. “I realized I couldn’t have a 41-year career like that. » He then reconsidered all the misconceptions he had about a career in management.
No longer feel illegitimate
She was also a victim of impostor syndrome, fueled, she explains, by her origins. “In engineering school, I realize that there are no young women with an immigrant background and from a working-class neighborhood. It’s extremely difficult to feel like, because I’m a statistical anomaly, I don’t belong here. »
As Sarah Zitouni points out, women are more affected by impostor syndrome than men. “We all grew up with the idea that we need to be studious,” an idea cherished at home and at school. But when you arrive as a woman in the world of work, where the rules are not the same, it is difficult to adapt. “The most important thing is to be heard, to be seen, and it’s very difficult to change. We are also raised in the principle of external validation. »
To put an end to these invisible barriers, Sarah Zitouni offers us an exercise that she herself has experimented with: that of the scarecrow.
“The scarecrow is the man you have already met in your life, who has no reason to be very proud of himself, and yet always has the impression that he can achieve anything. Every time you tell yourself that you’re not legitimate, that you can’t do this, you’ll think of this guy and tell yourself that it doesn’t even ask the question of whether he’s legitimate or not, when he’s not even legitimate. »
Stop believing in meritocracy
Another piece of advice from Sarah Zitouni: stop believing in the myth of meritocracy. “Meritocracy assumes that if you work hard, your merits and achievements will be recognized and you will be rewarded accordingly. »
In reality, what really works is “work on the right tasks and also know how to promote them”. This requires learning to say ” NO “. “If you say yes to everything, it means that your answer doesn’t matter and it devalues your contribution to what you do for the company. Saying no means that you are important and that you can’t just take on any task and do anything. »
Maintain your network
Sarah Zitouni says it: no one did it alone. “Everyone has benefited from someone’s help, so maintaining your network is essential, especially as a woman. Whether it’s men around you or women who use fraternities, for example. »
Dare to talk about money
True, women who dare talk about money are often frowned upon – at least less appreciated than men who do the same. The fault, according to Sarah Zitouni, is the still too strong idea that the woman’s salary is the couple’s secondary salary.
“It’s just that we know that there is also an economic factor in marital and domestic violence. So talking about money is essential. » This involves, when you work, negotiating your salary every year and every time you change positions. “It’s also about protecting yourself on a daily basis by making sure you always have a way out by having your own money. It’s literally life saving. »
Evaluate your successes
For this, Sarah Zitouni has very simple advice: “Write down all the things you managed to do during the week that you could be proud of. Treat yourself like a friend! Kindness is good for others, it’s even better for yourself. »
Changing the rules
“The world of work was built for men and by men. When we know that women have only had the right to have a job without their husband’s permission and manage their own bank account without their permission since the Giscard years, it has been less than a generation since we truly gave women space in the world of work – at least from a legal point of view. If we add to this the inequalities in domestic tasks or in the education of children, obviously in a world of work that wants us to work as if we had no private life, this makes the balance completely incompatible. »
But there is good news according to Sarah Zitouni: “GenZ and Millennials like me represent the largest contingent of employees in companies today. GenZ in particular is really trying to change the rules of business, for the better! The world of work is in the midst of a revolution and I hope we can change it, especially for women. »
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
