How to Get Noticed at Work and Ask for a Raise with Confidence
Let’s be real, waiting to be recognized is not a strategy. If you’re a Latina navigating your career, especially in male-dominated industries, you already know the system wasn’t built with you in mind. The pay gap is real, promotions don’t just land in your lap, and “work hard and they’ll notice” is a lie that keeps you underpaid.
Visibility IS a salary negotiation strategy. If decision-makers don’t see your impact, they won’t pay you for it. Thassit.
Why Visibility = More Money & More Power
You might be thinking, “But my work speaks for itself.” No, it doesn’t. It whispers. And in an industry where people with louder voices (and often more privilege) are getting ahead, you have to be intentional about making your impact known.
Here’s what they’re not telling you:
If they don’t see you, they won’t promote you.
If they don’t know what you’re worth, they won’t pay you what you deserve.
If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will do it for you.
Latinas are one of the most underpaid groups in tech, earning about 51 cents for every dollar a white man makes. That’s not just a problem. It’s a call to DO SOMETHING!
How to Get Noticed at Work (Without Selling Out)
No more blending into the background. No more hoping someone notices how hard you work. Here’s how to make sure you’re front and center when it matters.
1. Keep Receipts: Document Your Wins
Start a “Brag File” where you track every win, big or small. Did you streamline a process? Save the company money? Lead a successful project? Write it down. Because when it’s time to negotiate, you need cold, hard facts—not just vibes.
Example:
Instead of “I helped improve our team’s workflow.”
Say “I implemented a new workflow that cut project timelines by 30%, saving the company X dollars.”
2. Speak Up in Meetings (Yes, Even When It Feels Uncomfortable)
If you’re constantly doing great work but keeping quiet, guess what? People will assume you’re just “nice to have” instead of essential.
Get in the habit of:
Sharing your ideas before someone else does.
Asking strategic questions.
Making sure your name is attached to your work in team discussions.
If you struggle with speaking up, start small. Challenge yourself to contribute at least once per meeting. Visibility is a muscle you build it by using it.
3. Rebrand Yourself as a Thought Leader
Tech is all about reputation. And guess what? You don’t have to wait for someone else to call you an expert, you can claim that title yourself.
Post insights on LinkedIn.
Speak at company town halls or ERG (Employee Resource Group) meetings.
Offer to lead a lunch-and-learn session on something you’re great at.
When higher-ups start associating your name with big ideas, leadership, and innovation, you’re no longer just “another employee”, you’re an industry leader in the making.
4. Take Credit. Loudly.
Stop giving all the credit to “the team” when you did the heavy lifting. Own your success!
Instead of:
“We launched this feature.”
Say:
“I spearheaded the launch of this feature, which increased user engagement by 40%.”
This isn’t arrogance. It’s accurate storytelling. If you don’t claim your contributions, someone else will.
5. Build Relationships with Power Players
Your work isn’t the only thing that needs visibility, you do too. That means:
Connecting with decision-makers in your org.
Scheduling casual coffee chats with influential colleagues.
Finding an executive sponsor who can advocate for you in rooms you’re not in.
How to Ask for a Raise (Without the Panic)
Okay, so you’ve made yourself more visible. Now what? It’s time to translate that into dollars and you do that by creating a clear strategy before asking for a raise.
1. Do Your Research & Set the Bar High
Before negotiating, get the facts. Use Glassdoor, Payscale, or even whisper networks to find out what others in your role (and level) are making.
Then, aim higher than you think you should. Because chances are, you’ve been conditioned to undervalue yourself.
2. Sell Your Impact, Not Your Hard Work
No one is paying you for effort. They’re paying you for results.
Instead of “I worked really hard on this project.”
Say: “I led a project that increased customer retention by 25%, driving an additional $500K in revenue.”
See the difference? Data makes your case undeniable.
3. Counter Every the First Offer
Women are statistically more likely to accept the first offer. Don’t do it.
A simple script:
"I appreciate the offer. Given my contributions and market research, I’d like to discuss increasing that number to [higher amount]."
Say it confidently. Say it without hesitation. Men negotiate all the time—so should you.
4. Negotiate Beyond Salary
If the company says they can’t budge on salary, pivot:
Ask for stock options → check out my list of negotiables (hyperlink).
Push for a leadership development budget.
Secure remote work flexibility.
Money is great, but power, skills, and work-life balance are just as valuable.
FAQs About Getting Noticed and Asking for a Raise
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Speak up in meetings, share your wins with data, and take ownership of your work. You’re not annoying, you’re visible.
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Prepare a script, practice with a friend, and lead with results. Start with: “I’d like to revisit my compensation based on the impact I’ve made in the past year.”
Stop Waiting. Start Negotiating.
When Latinas in tech negotiate better pay, it raises the bar for all of us. It challenges the status quo. It forces the industry to do better.
So next time you’re feeling hesitant about speaking up, negotiating, or advocating for yourself, remember this:
Visibility is about equity.
You are your best advocate.
Waiting to be recognized is NOT a strategy.
Now go get that raise.