A Harvard Career Coach’s “Unspoken Rules” for Getting Promoted Flashcards
First-generation
adjective
Referring to individuals who are the first in their family to achieve a specific milestone
* As a first-generation immigrant, she faced many challenges in adapting to a new culture.
* Being a first-generation college student inspired him to help others pursue higher education.
Put one’s head down
idiom
To focus intently on a task and work hard
* With the deadline approaching, I need to put my head down and finish this project.
* After the meeting, he put his head down to analyze the data thoroughly.
Let something speak for itself
idiom
To let something show its true value or meaning without needing to explain it
* Instead of making excuses, let the quality of our work speak for itself.
* The results from last quarter speak for themselves; our new strategy is clearly working.
Elite
adjective
Referring to the group of the best or most powerful individuals within a particular context
* She trained with elite athletes to improve her skills.
* Our company recruits elite talent to drive innovation.
Put oneself out there
idiom
To take risks by being open or vulnerable in social or professional situations
* She decided to put herself out there by networking at industry events.
* It’s important to put yourself out there if you want to advance your career.
Not knowing a soul
idiom
To not know anyone in a particular place or situation
* When I started my new job, I didn’t know a soul in the office.
* At the networking event, she realized she didn’t know a soul in the room.
A level playing field
idiom
A situation in which everyone has equal opportunities and advantages
* The new regulations aim to create a level playing field for all companies in the industry.
* By promoting transparency, we can establish a level playing field for competitors.
A discerning eye
noun
The ability to notice and appreciate fine details
* Our designer has a discerning eye for trends, which helps us stay ahead of the competition.
* Investors with a discerning eye can identify promising startups that others might overlook.
Pull a late night
idiom
To stay awake and work late into the night
* With the deadline approaching, the team had to pull a late night to finalize the presentation.
* She pulled a late night last week to prepare for the crucial client pitch.
The higher ups
noun
Individuals in an organization who hold senior or managerial positions
* We need to present our findings to the higher ups before making any changes to the strategy.
* The higher ups are considering a new policy to improve employee engagement.
Bombarded
verb
To be overwhelmed with a large amount of information or requests
* After the new product launch, our customer service team was bombarded with inquiries.
* I felt bombarded by meetings this week, making it hard to focus on my actual work.
Take ownership
verbal phrase
To accept responsibility and accountability for a task or outcome
* He was praised for taking ownership of the client relationship, which led to increased trust.
* Taking ownership of your mistakes and learning from them can greatly enhance your professional growth.
Solicit feedback
verbal phrase
To actively seek opinions or evaluations from others
* Before launching the new software, we decided to solicit feedback from a select group of users.
* To foster a culture of continuous improvement, it’s important to solicit feedback regularly from employees.
Nerve-wracking
adjective
Causing stress, anxiety, or nervousness
* The presentation to the board was nerve-wracking, but I felt well-prepared.
* Launching a new product is often nerve-wracking due to the uncertainties in the market.
Lived experience
noun
Insights gained from personal life experiences
* Our diversity training program incorporates employees’ lived experiences to foster a more inclusive workplace.
* Understanding the lived experiences of our clients helps us create more effective solutions to their challenges.
