113: How a Senior Product Designer got promoted with a 37% increase in total compensation

Want to get hired in UX faster? Click here.Welcome to the Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, a UX Designer & UX Researcher who also founded the UX job search accelerator Career Strategy Lab. She's been doing UX career coaching since 2017.Follow Sarah on: LinkedIn | YouTube | InstagramPromotions don’t just happen—you have to advocate for yourself! In this episode, Sarah breaks down the inspiring story of Marco, a Senior Product Designer who secured a 37% increase in total compensation by leveraging his annual review process, gathering compelling evidence, and using the tools from Career Strategy Lab to make his case.If you’ve ever wondered how to position yourself for a promotion, this episode is a must-listen. Sarah walks through Marco’s exact strategy, from recognizing his value to structuring his performance review, so you can apply the same tactics in your own career.What You’ll Learn:Why promotions don’t happen by chance—you have to make the case for yourself.How Marco used UX case studies from Career Strategy Lab to showcase his impact.The importance of peer reviews and selecting the right colleagues to vouch for you.How to prepare for performance review season all year round—not just weeks before.Why documenting your achievements is crucial for both promotions and job searches.Links & Resources:Join Career Strategy Lab to fast-track your job search or promotionIf this episode resonated with you, tag Sarah on social media or leave a quick review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!🎧 Listen now and start setting yourself up for your next promotion!Timestamps00:38 The Importance of Strategy in Career Growth01:02 Case Study: Marco's Journey to Promotion02:02 Marco's Strategy: Leveraging Career Strategy Lab04:15 Steps Marco Took to Secure His Promotion07:54 Key Takeaways: How to Advocate for Yourself10:28 Final Thoughts and Encouragement11:36 Conclusion: Stay Connected and Share Your Thoughts🎬 Watch our free UX Job Search Workshop and learn how to stand out in 2025👉 Join Career Strategy Lab, a UX job search accelerator for UX and Product people.👋 Say hi and follow our host, Sarah Doody, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

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A third of our lives, or about 70,400 hours, are spent at work. At some point, you’ve likely found yourself stuck in your career and felt underpaid, undervalued, unfulfilled, underutilized, or unsure of where you’re headed and what you’re doing. Being stuck in your career is not your fault! Most career advice feels like it’s stuck in the 80’s and 90’s. The Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody, Founder & CEO of Career Strategy Lab, will help you apply timeless design, marketing, and sales strategies to your career. Each episode has actionable steps that will take the overwhelm and stress out of advancing your career regardless of what stage you’re at.