How to get promoted

Perceptions about you

A key factor in how to get promoted is often the position you are currently in and how those around you see your role in the bigger picture. If you are a new entrant to the job market or a recent addition to the organisation, you may have more opportunity to show your worth and potential than a co-worker who has been around for some time. A veteran employee may find him or herself limited by the perceptions others have built up over time. In both cases, however, the basic fundamentals are the same:

• • Master your current job

• • Be enthusiastic

• • Take pride in your work

• • Always do your best at each task you are given, no matter how small

• • Establish and maintain a good relationship with your boss. Besides mentoring opportunities, he or she will play a pivotal role in your future

• • Dress and act professionally at all times.

Important first impression

The newcomer has the opportunity to create a lasting impression of genuine desire and capability. The old cliché about never having a second chance at a first impression works in your favour here where you can establish yourself as the dynamic hard-working and resourceful team player everyone wants to have around.

Promote yourself

The more established workers may have to overcome the perception that they do not have the desire or drive to be promoted – that they have sat back and let others step forward to take on additional responsibility. In this case a direct approach may be best.

Ask your boss what you need to do to be considered for promotion. This has a number of benefits:

• • It puts your intentions and desire out in the open

• • It shows your willingness to learn and improve and will give you valuable feedback on your performance

• • It demonstrates your long-term commitment to the organisation.

Also, acquire and demonstrate new skills and knowledge, and ask to take on more responsibility. This will serve to underline the fact that there is more to you than may previously have been apparent. Additionally, you can demonstrate your initiative and creativity by identifying your organisation’s needs in a previously neglected area, and submit a proposal for a position ideally suited to your skills.

It is always possible to hope that just by doing what you think is an outstanding job you will be plucked from relative obscurity and placed in the limelight and received all the rewards your hard work deserves. However, the reality is that a promotion often follows self-promotion – spreading the word about what you do, what you have done and what you are capable of. If you believe in yourself and your personal brand you have created, there is no reason to hold back from sharing that belief with others. And if all else fails, rest assured that the resourcefulness, flexibility and professionalism you have cultivated will make you very appealing to many outside organisations.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about promotion at work.