A lot of people deserves a promotion but doesn’t get it. A lot of people wants a promotion but just gets stuck dreaming it. For most people it takes forever to land one. It’s not something you can do tomorrow but it’s something you can work on today.

Image is everything
Create an image that oozes with professionalism. Be punctual. This is a trait that is most valued and admired in every workplace. Dress to impress, dress for success. This is a really good trick as this can get you noticed by all the right people. Additionally, make yourself known. Be friendly. It pays to know people in the HR department. It also pays to be popular in the workplace as this can help your name be on the top of the list for promotions. Just make sure that you’re popular for all the right reasons. Offer a helping hand to colleagues or your boss who might be drowning in his workload. This can show that you have the skills and the time to do bigger things! Be a pillar of positivity. We all have complaints about our jobs, but this can be done gracefully. Don’t be the person who drags everyone down instead offer a ray of hope in challenging situations. Soon enough you’ll be on top of mind for recommendation for promotions!

Be dependable
Be an expert in your job functions. Manage your time very well. Don’t procrastinate. Even if you can do your job with your eyes closed, don’t slack off and almost miss a deadline for important projects. Always give it your best. If your work needs a lot of revision or guidance then you’re not sending out the right message. You may hate your current job and just can’t wait to get promoted to a higher position, but you first have to do very well at the current one you hold. If you can be most dependable then it’d be easier for you to be thought to perform the same when you’re given new responsibilities for a new position.

Step up
Once you’re an expert at your current title, try to learn about all the other functions of your immediate boss, your colleagues and the functions of the departments you closely work with. This can come in handy as you can shine when these people can’t deliver or if they’re simply absent and there’s an immediate need. Make sure that you can stick as the person who can be relied upon. Often, higher positions would require you to give presentations whether to a group of people or a single person who you may want to sell your ideas to. So, keep ahead learn public speaking. This ability would be very useful in selling yourself to a panel of interviewers for your promotion or even at your new job.

Consistency
Consistency equals reliability. If you can’t keep a promise and just prove to be good on rare occasions then you lose your chance of being considered for a promotion. You have to take full personal responsibility for your job. Don’t blame others for things that are not done. Take pride in your work. If bosses see that you can’t handle your current job well then you can say goodbye to that dream of getting promoted.

Keep learning
It is always good to learn new things. It wouldn’t hurt to learn skills or new courses that are related to the position you’re aiming for. Start now! If you’re fully equipped with the skills needed for the higher position then it’d be much easier to see you as the rightful person to be promoted. Needing to train you on some skills can be a drawback especially if there’s an immediate requirement for the position.

Ask for it
You’d get a better chance of getting a promotion if you ask for it rather than if you just sit quietly hoping for it to happen. Give subtle hints or when appropriate let your bosses know of your aim to climb the corporate ladder. Once you’ve mustered the courage to ask for it, make sure you can back it up with achievements you’ve had. Be assertive. Ask when you’ll get the verdict and in case you get a negative feedback, ask why. Knowing the reason for not getting the promotion would help you know things you should work on so that you can finally land that promotion in the near future.

Tags: employers, get a salary raise, job, promotion, skills

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 1:07 pm and is filed under Career Changes, Free Advice, Promotions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.