This is totally relatable.
Currently, for quite a few people, I set the standard.
This totally tells me you are worthy!
Thanks for sharing the video - it was super interesting.
Yes, being able to articulate the value we bring takes a lot of practice, even more so because of the tendency to undervalue our own contributions.
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Visibility held me back earlier in my career when I started reporting into engineering/dev managers instead of QA managers. Over time I realised there are things QA managers naturally pick up on around the way you work that engineering managers are likely to miss.
A couple of things that helped me out:
- I started keeping a daily journal, then before any 1:1s or reviews I would pick out anything notable and make sure I got it in front of my manager.
- I took more of an interest in setting goals. Where possible it’s good to be explicit, maybe by adding a clear list of points to hit. Anything vague can be left open to interpretation (fairly sure I’ve missed out on promotions because of vague goals!).
- If you get a chance to help other teams or interact with senior management - do it. The more people who are aware of how you work the better.
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Thanks for mentioning the app. I installed it and hope it will help me track my records
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Having not attended TestBash, I do agree with many others in the community that there is a struggle in showcasing one’s work. The contributors to this struggle are self-doubt, and, in a different scope, the fear of boasting. In my case, it also includes the challenge of striking a balance between humility and self-promotion. One tip that has helped me is to consider the impact of your work for others rather than focusing on an accomplishment for yourself.
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