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Top 10 tips for career advancement: Empowering women in privacy
The members of the IAPP's Women Leading Privacy Advisory Board put together this list of 10 tips for career advancement in the privacy field, with a focus on empowering women in privacy.
Published: November 2024
Contributors:
The IAPP's Women Leading Privacy Section proudly recognizes the remarkable representation of women in privacy roles compared to other professions, highlighting their pivotal contributions to the field.
The members of the IAPP's Women Leading Privacy Advisory Board put together this list of 10 tips for career advancement in the privacy field, with a focus on empowering women in privacy.
Additionally, the IAPP hosted the following web conferences on women leading in privacy:
- Empowering women in privacy: Various career paths and useful skills for success
- Women leading in privacy and the impostor syndrome: Inseparable companions?
- Women in privacy: Unpacking dark patterns in ads, AI and beyond
Top 10 tips for career advancement: Empowering women in privacy
1. Use LinkedIn jobs or other job platforms
Find information about positions by checking the IAPP Job Board, government resources like USAJobs.gov or local web listings. Take advantage of career resources at your alma mater.
2. Use broad keywords
Input broad keywords such as data, data protection, privacy, data governance, AI, digital, cybersecurity, trust and safety, and roles like manager, specialist, associate, expert, consultant, contractor and analyst.
3. Salary
Look for companies that are transparent about salary ranges at the outset of the job search process. Review the IAPP Salary Survey. If offered a position, ask about benefits, teleworking, training and career development opportunities.
4. Actively network
Use networking opportunities like the IAPP and other professional associations. Attend conferences and participate in your local KnowledgeNet chapter.
5. Resume and LinkedIn profile
Use AI tools to improve your resume and cover letters. Aim to keep your resume to one page. Target your resume and other application materials for the employer and position if possible. Enhance your LinkedIn profile to make it more attractive to recruiters.
6. Acknowledge other women in privacy
Take every opportunity to acknowledge other women through company recognition programs, IAPP awards and posts on LinkedIn. Acknowledging colleagues does not take long and can be very beneficial.
7. Seek mentors
Seek out informal or formal mentorship. Request brief calls to gain information. When reaching out to someone you do not know, let them know upfront what you are looking for, ask specific questions and be open so they can better assist you.
8. Continue learning and stay updated
Consider trainings and certifications. Stay current with the latest regulations and technologies. Subscribe to newsletters and follow important news in the worlds of data protection, AI governance and cybersecurity law.
9. Invest in yourself
Invest in coaching, mentoring and other ways to build your emotional intelligence and important soft skills. These skills are critical in many situations.
10. Know yourself
Understand what is most important to you and what makes you happy and fulfilled. Ask yourself if the path you are on is leading you in a direction that satisfies you.