I'm an introverted immigrant with solid technical skills. But throughout my experience I found most companies value people who knows how to talk, chat and social. These people don't necessarily do tons of deep-dive work but they can take your stuff and talk very well. They get promoted easily and I usually don't get full credit for what I do. Year after year I feel like chasing pavement that leads to nowhere. Seeking advice here: what should I do if I also want career advancement? Is there any Silicon Valley company promoting general fairness on work contribution? Am I destined to fail? I appreciate any actionable advice!
Agree, Toastmasters. It will be a stretch, as an introvert, but that's the point, isn't it? It's a lot of fun.
Toastmasters all the way. Having done that a few years back, completely vouch for it
I can suggest the book Stealing the Corner Office for perspective on your concerns about advancement
Toastmasters is a good one. It forces a structure and that's good if you major challenge s. Other than find day-to-day settings where u can exercise your skills. It's just like a sport, you can't become an ace windsurfer overnight. Same thing here you months or quarters of practice. There's a small but very cheap book called Elements of Style by strunk and white - was written a very long time ago but it is a remarkable pocket book that helps with everyday situations.
A less standard option: go take improvisational acting classes. They are full of energy, focused on collaborating on the fly, and help you step into areas of discomfort with classmates on the same adventure.
U mean comedy classes?
I tried toastmasters and i have seen improvements in two months only an hour a week. You can't get away with that. Communication skills are important. If you're an immigrant, don't limit yourself to people of the same language and ethnicity to hang out with. Try hanging out with people outside your comfort zone. It's challenging a bit but as you see improvement and results you will be more motivated. I was in the same situation and the only thing that helped me was getting out of my comfort zone and show confidence.
Let's hang out! I'm also an immigrant, or almost. I have to come back to Brazil in a few weeks, but I have some free time :)
Start a business, go to more social events. Just talk to people, get out there
You're destined to fail. Even at places that boast meritocracy, it's all about likeability, which is conveyed by how you speak, and how often you speak. You need to learn self-promotion without arrogance, because just speaking factually will make you sound boring and people won't have a good affinity towards you.
You may want to get out of your comfort zone and hang out with native English speakers more often. Your post shows that your English is shaky.
Seek a mentor, and try to line yourself with someone who will advocate for you. It's typically referred as a sponsor.