You’re working hard, cranking out great work, and feeling like you’re crushing it—but somehow, you’re still not getting ahead. It’s frustrating, right? The truth is, waiting for someone to notice your effort isn’t a strategy. It’s time to take control. Self-advocacy isn’t about being boastful—it’s about confidently sharing your achievements, seeking feedback, and ensuring your work aligns with your goals and values. This playbook will help you advocate for yourself and make sure your hard work leads to real progress.
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Folks, meet the Hype Doc—your go-to tool for advocating for yourself at work. It helps you track wins, feedback, and behind-the-scenes contributions, so you’re always ready to confidently showcase your value. It’s easy to forget what you did a week ago, let alone months ago. A Hype Doc helps systematize and foolproof your ability to self-advocate. It’s not about showboating or tracking minutiae, but about painting a clear picture of the value you contribute.
Follow the tips below to create and maintain your Hype Doc, then use the template to get started!
Schedule a recurring time every two weeks to update your Hype Doc. The more frequently you update it, the easier it will be to remember the contributions you’ve made.
Before your next check-in with your manager, review your Hype Doc to identify key achievements. Use it to prepare for conversations about new opportunities or to highlight areas where you’ve excelled.
Take 10 minutes now to reflect on the past month at work. Write down all of the accomplishments you’re proud of, how they align with your company’s goals, and any lessons learned or hidden work that may have gone unnoticed.
Use the following template to structure your Hype Doc and stay organized:
Next Steps: [What’s the next opportunity or responsibility you want to advocate for?]
We’re glad that you’re not only cold-applying to roles. Using a variety of application strategies, like getting referred by a former colleague or attending a job fair, can help you break through.
Cold-applying for roles is one of many ways that you can land your next gig, but it should never be your only strategy. You can also try:
Staying focused on the roles that are really aligned to your skills and ambitions is a great way to make sure that you’re not wasting your efforts on activities with little to no return. Stay focused here!
We get it: the job hunt can be exhausting and it can be tempting to start mass applying to roles. Unfortunately, doing so will likely only make your situation more frustrating: the more times you are declined for a role, it will inevitably make you feel even more burnt out and discouraged.
Instead, focus your energy on the roles that are truly interesting to you and make sure your application is as strong as it can be. Always consider tailoring your resume for the role and add a strong cover letter to help you stand out.
Whether you’re sending a thank you note or checking in after a few days of no response, it’s smart to be proactive and reach out to hiring managers and recruiters to keep your name in sight and in mind. Keep it up!
There are few things more impactful than a great thank you note after an interview. Be sure to always send one to folks you interview with, and be specific as to why you enjoyed the conversation. If they don’t get back to you with next steps by the expected date, reach out directly to check in.
We’re glad that you’re not reinventing the wheel when writing cover letters. While it’s always smart to repurpose some of your cover letter, remember to customize a few details to help align your letter to the role you’re applying for.
Great cover letters can be really impactful, but they can also take a lot of time. We recommend having a “default” cover letter that outlines who you are, what you’ve done, and where you want to go next. From there, you can make small tweaks to the cover letter based on what role you’re applying for.
Staying connected with your current network is a great way to learn about new opportunities that you may not have found on your own. As you’re connecting with folks, remember to be open about the fact that you’re looking for a new opportunity and you’d appreciate any connections or introduction they can offer.
Your network is probably one of your most underutilized resources. The more people you connect with, the more people can advocate for you and connect you to new opportunities.
Your friends and family can be some of your most trusted advocates. Keep sharing with them to help keep your job search on track and aligned to the things that make you, you.
Your friends and family are likely some of your biggest supporters. Even if you’ve never talked to them about your professional ambitions before, it’s never too late to share what you’re interested in and the types of roles you’re looking for. You’ll be surprised by how much insight, support, and ideas they’ll have to help.
Feeling confident reaching out to new folks is a great advantage on the quest of landing an interview. When you’re reaching out, be sure to include a specific reason why you’re interested in connecting.
We get it: reaching out to new connections on LinkedIn can be intimidating.
If you’re mostly afraid of rejection (aka: not hearing back from someone or being told no to a meeting), don’t let that deter you. Hearing “No” is part of the process of landing a job, but the key is to let others tell you no vs. telling yourself no before you even try.
If you’re unsure what to say: remember that specificity is key. Include details about why you’re reaching out to this individual in particular and avoid generic reasons for connecting.
Note: Remember, our mindset around self-advocacy should be “always-on.” This helps ensures that your contributions and value are consistently visible, not just during performance reviews or when things go wrong. When you regularly advocate for yourself, you build a narrative around your achievements, skills, and growth that aligns with your goals and helps you stay top-of-mind for new opportunities, stretch projects, or promotions. Find moments in your regular 1-on-1s to share your wins and the work that feels the most “you”.
Here’s a conversation starter:
"I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the recent wins I’ve been excited about, like [specific project/accomplishment]. I feel like this work has really showcased my strengths in [skill or area], and I’m proud of the results [ideally tying back to specific company or team goal]. What are your thoughts on these projects? I’d love to discuss how I can continue building on this momentum and explore new opportunities to add even more value to the team."
"I’ve been reflecting on my recent work and the skills I’ve developed, and I really feel ready to take on a new challenge. I’m particularly interested in [specific project or area], as I think it would allow me to stretch my skills in [specific area]. I’d love to discuss how I can contribute to this project while continuing to add value to the team.
What steps do you think I should take to prepare for this opportunity?"
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"I’ve been putting in a lot of effort and feel like I’m ready to move to the next level, so I’ll admit I’m feeling frustrated that there isn’t an opportunity available right now. I understand there are business constraints, and I’d like to have an open conversation about how I can stay motivated and continue growing in the meantime. Are there ways I can take on more responsibilities or projects that will help me prepare for when the right opportunity comes along?"
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"I wanted to take a moment to discuss some of the work I’ve been focusing on, particularly areas that may not be as visible, like [specific behind-the-scenes tasks]. I’ve been working on [describe contributions], which I believe have added value by [specific impact, e.g., saving time, improving processes, etc.]. I’d love to get your feedback on how I can better showcase this work and align it more clearly with our team’s goals. Are there areas where I could be more visible or contribute in ways that better support the team?"
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