Getting a Promotion: Seven Tips to Take you to the Top!
By Lora Meisner, Thingamajob.com Staff Writer
Care about your career? Want to get promoted? Are people telling you that it isn't easy right now due to downsizing in companies? Don't let the "gloom and doomers" keep you from finding those promotion opportunities. Roll up your sleeves and get aggressive!
With any job, you need to show that you have a consistent and effective work performance. This is the best way to build management's trust and confidence in you.
Seven Avenues for Finding Promotion Opportunities
1. Network within your organization to discover unmet needs.
Many of our best jobs are the ones we invent. See if these unmet needs would comprise a new job or could be added responsibilities to your present job. Adding responsibilities to your present position, although not a promotion, can sometimes garner a salary increase, bonus, or some other benefit.
2. Understand and keep updated about corporate priorities.
By supporting your company's priorities, you can improve your resume by contributing your skills and experience to your company's efforts.
3. Make it easy for management to promote you.
Be the most qualified person who has already performed the job. Volunteer for more difficult and responsible assignments and prove that you're the person to get the job done. With any job, you need to show that you have a consistent and effective work performance. This is the best way to build management's trust and confidence in you.
Sometimes you've got to get out to move up.
4. Share your successes and take responsibility for your errors.
To gain the trust of your peers is just as important as trust of management. We can underestimate the power of perception. If our co-workers view us in a positive light, word spreads that you're a team player-let your reputation precede you into your manager's office.
5. Be willing to learn from your mistakes.
The most successful business people make mistakes. The reason they're successful is that they've turned them into learning experiences. While you're learning from your mistakes, remember to take time to get formal training as well. Take advantage of any tuition reimbursement programs, online learning (there are many free online learning opportunities), continuing education, etc.
6. Find people on their way up and align yourself with them.
Hitch your wagon to a star. Most successful executives will tell you that they didn't get there strictly on their own-someone mentored them.
7. Find your niche.
What skills do you have that some people on your team lack? This may seem somewhat extreme to some people, but we all have unique talents or capabilities. Sometimes these talents are just the ticket that leads to a promotion.
When Opportunity Doesn't Knock
What do you do when these steps to success don't lead to promotion opportunities? When a promotion is simply not available, consider making a lateral move. Other positions may offer opportunities to acquire new skills and to broaden your experience and networking base. Additionally, if you've been in the same company for a long time, a lateral move can give you the varied professional experience to round out your resume.
If it seems you are on a road to nowhere despite your best efforts to advance in your company, it may be time to cut your losses and move on. Many successful people have acquired their promotion via a new company. Sometimes you've got to get out to move up.
Looking to make a career move? Create a free Thingamajob account and gain access to a wide spectrum of job opportunities from Allegis Group's diverse family of staffing companies including TEKsystems and Aerotek.