Even if you love your job, there may come a time when you feel ready to take on a role of greater responsibility. If you've proven your worth as an employee and have a good relationship with your boss, the chances of getting promoted are pretty high. If you ask for a promotion and receive a rejection, whatever the reason, you still have the possibility of greatly increasing your chances of success in the future, thanks to consistency and the right attitude.
Steps
Method 1 of 13: Define Your Goals and Motivations
Step 1. It's hard to get what you want if you don't know why you are looking for it
Is there a specific job that interests you or would it be enough for you to have more responsibilities at work? Are you trying to advance because you want to challenge yourself or because you think you are more likely to succeed in a different role? During the decision making process, you will be asked why you want to be promoted, so having a clear idea about it will help you get what you want.
- When you ask your boss to get promoted, he will certainly ask you, "Why do you think you deserve a promotion?" The answer to this question can decide your fate, so get ready for that conversation right away.
- Some great reasons for getting a promotion are: "I know I can handle more responsibilities and I want to challenge myself to improve professionally" and "I can benefit the company more as a regional vice president than I can do as a director. regional". Conversely, "I want more money" and "I haven't been promoted in a long time" are not quite as good reasons.
Method 2 of 13: Evaluate the Culture and Financial Status of the Company
Step 1. Finding the right moment to apply for a promotion is an art rather than a science
If no one gets promoted and times are tough, your application will not be taken well. Conversely, if your coworkers get promoted after a few months of work, this is the perfect time to ask for career advancement. Also consider your company's social policies and norms.
- If you work in a newly founded start-up, with an informal and open environment, you can freely advance your application.
- If you are part of a large company, where promotion decisions are related to individual performance ratings, you have to wait.
- Pay attention to the atmosphere at work. If your boss has recently seemed nervous to you, don't rush. In case you have a great relationship and everything is going smoothly at work, feel free to start the discussion.
Method 3 of 13: Discuss the Promotion with your Boss
Step 1. Take your boss aside and talk to him honestly
Explain that you are interested in taking on more responsibilities or more challenging challenges at work. State your intentions and listen to his response. If it tells you you're ready, great! If not, at least you will know what you need to do.
- For example, you could ask your boss to meet and simply say, "Look, I think I've done a great job in the past year and I'm ready for the next challenge. Can we talk about a possible promotion?"
- Prepare some concrete examples to cite if you are asked a question about your performance. If your boss asks you how you value your job, respond with those examples.
- There is no "perfect time" to ask for a promotion. If you are undecided, it is always best to ask. If you receive a rejection, at least the boss will explain to you why he doesn't think it's the right choice at the moment. This way, you will be able to better understand what stands in your way. Who knows, might decide to promote you right away!
Method 4 of 13: Maintain a Positive and Friendly Attitude
Step 1. If people love working with you, you are more likely to get a promotion
Smile, encourage others when they have a hard time, and show your resilience in the face of defeat. Even if you're having a bad day, try not to complain. Your boss is more likely to decide to promote you if they appreciate working with you and see you as a person who can lift the company's morale, even when times are tough.
- If you have a tendency to complain in the face of adversity, try quitting. Look for solutions, not problems.
- Make a commitment to befriend as many colleagues as possible. If someone else gets promoted before you, they will at least be able to sponsor your application the next time there is a position available.
Method 5 of 13: Helping Colleagues and Leaders
Step 1. Offer your help to colleagues when they need a hand
Ask your boss and peers if you can help them with a project. If you can become an asset to others, you will make everyone understand that you have the dough to be a leader. When you see an opportunity to make yourself useful, take it. Getting promoted will become a lot easier if you build a reputation as a professional who helps others in the office.
- Talk to your boss and colleagues regularly, asking them, "Hi, how are you doing? Can I somehow help you take the pressure off your workload?"
- Avoid doing too many things if you are already very busy. It is not worth sacrificing your performance to help a colleague.
Method 6 of 13: Try to be Professional
Step 1. Show up on time every day and dress well
Follow company policies and don't override anyone. If you don't seem ready to take on a leadership role, either by appearance or by your behaviors, no one will consider you for the next important position that becomes available.
- Avoid social networks when using your company computer and don't take too long lunch breaks. If you appear to be lazy, you won't get the promotion you want.
- Having a professional look does not mean wearing ordinary clothing. There is nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd and attracting attention with a beautiful dress or elegant dress.
Method 7 of 13: Demonstrate Your Value through the Quality of Your Work
Step 1. Let your work speak for you by doing your best
Avoid chatting in front of the water dispenser and show up at meetings with everything you need to contribute. Offer to take care of optional projects and try to achieve all the goals that are set for you. If you can prove that you are a valuable asset to your business, the chances of getting promoted will greatly increase.
Collect all the evidence that testifies to your successes. It will be very useful the next time you talk to your boss about a promotion. Sales numbers, written communications, time sheets, and performance reviews are all proofs that you are ready to take on more responsibility
Method 8 of 13: Ask for Opinions on your Work and Treasure It
Step 1. Regularly ask your boss how you are working
If he tells you that you are on the right path, great! Keep it up. If you receive even a single criticism, avoid taking it personally or being defensive. Try your best to apply your boss's suggestions, even if they don't make sense to you or if you think their criticism is undeserved.
- Take notes on the comments made to you and the changes you make. If you can show that you have honed the skills they asked you to improve, you have a very good chance of getting a promotion.
- Look for suggestions from colleagues too. While it won't help as much as your boss's opinion, it will show everyone that you are willing to grow and improve.
- Just talk to your boss and ask him "Hey, how am I doing lately?" or "Do you think I could have done better in the last project?".
Method 9 of 13: Developing Skills Outside of Work
Step 1. If you know you have gaps, fill them
If you are not well versed in finance, take a course on that subject. If you need to practice closing sales, attend salespeople conferences and forums dedicated to your business. The more you work to improve your skills outside of work, the more compelling your application will be when there is a chance to get a promotion.
- You can take courses from the local public university.
- Make sure your boss is aware of your professional progress. You can inform him about your efforts informally when you chat with him. Alternatively, you can ask if the company has a program that funds employee professional training. Even if there is no such program, your boss will know that you are trying to improve.
Method 10 of 13: Continue Talking to the Promotion Manager
Step 1. Ask for another meeting after 1-2 months of hard work
Bring evidence of your improvements and ask to discuss the matter again. It can take some time for your proposal to pay off, but you will get what you want thanks to consistency and persistence. If your boss is willing to promote you, ask what the next steps are. If not, ask what are the obstacles preventing you from making a career.
- If the company has no vacancies or is currently in financial difficulties, you don't have many options. You just have to be patient.
- For example, you might say, "Hi, Mr. Rossi, I was hoping we could get back to the conversation we had about the assistant manager position that is about to become available. I think I've done a great job lately and I think I'm ready. Tomorrow we can. meet to talk about it? ".
Method 11 of 13: Formally Apply for a Position in a Large Company
Step 1. If you work in a large company and need to apply formally, do so now
Prepare a short speech or formal presentation for the interview to demonstrate your qualities. Collect all the assessments, data and evidence, then draft a speech or organize the information with PowerPoint. The more detailed your presentation, the more convincing your application will be. Fill out the form and bring your documentation with you to the interview.
- On PowerPoint, you can include sales, goals achieved, excerpts from performance reviews, and the number of customers you brought to the company.
- You can start by saying, "I strongly believe that my performance proves that I am the best candidate for the job. My client ratings are 98% positive, I have achieved my goals in the past 3 quarters and I have a very good relationship with all my colleagues".
Method 12 of 13: Leverage Employment Relations When a Colleague Leaves the Company
Step 1. Becoming friends with a colleague who is about to leave the company is a great way to advance your career
If you feel - have you heard a voice or know for sure - that the person in the job you want is about to leave, talk to this person. Ask her what her job is and try to learn more about her if you don't have a great relationship right now. In addition to the valuable advice he will be able to give you, he may also mention your name when he leaves his job and put you in a position of great advantage.
If a colleague tells you directly that he is leaving the company, just ask him: "Do you think I would do well in your role?". He will be able to give you great advice based on his own experiences
Method 13 of 13: Inventing a New Position in a Small Business
Step 1. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, create your career path
Talk to your boss about expanding your role or inventing a new one to fill a gap within the company. If your idea is valid, you will be able to get the position simply because you were the only one able to identify the need to create a new professional figure. On the other hand, if your boss doesn't like the idea and turns down the offer, at least you will let them know that you have a great overview.
- For example, if you work in QA at a software company, but there is no person to verify customer feedback, you could ask your boss to expand your responsibilities and start collecting and analyzing that data.
- If you work in a small company that does not have the "head of sales" position, talk to your boss. If you simply never thought about it, you could offer your willingness to supervise the entire department.
- You can talk to your boss and say, "The other day I was thinking about the organization of the company and I realized that they have no one to handle the communications between the IT department and sales. I would like to take that responsibility, if you also believe that he is a figure capable of improving the structure of the company ".
