If the phrase “new year, new you” speaks to you and your career, you are probably thinking about a new job. Sometimes, though, a new job doesn’t necessarily mean sending out resumes and leaving behind the hard work you’ve done at your current company. If this is true for you, you are probably hoping for a promotion. Many employees expect to be promoted automatically after completing a huge project, putting in a certain amount of time or meeting company goals. Unfortunately, many people are not offered a promotion unless they go out and ask for one. If you are hoping for a promotion this year, here are a few tips to help get you there.
Express Your Intentions
Your boss can’t read your mind and it’s likely that he has a lot more on his plate than figuring out your next steps. If you want, and feel you deserve, a promotion, let your boss know. This doesn’t mean sending an email stating you want to be promoted, though. Instead, set up a meeting with your boss to discuss your job and your future with the company. Let it be known that during this meeting, you want to see what else is in store for you and to discuss how you can help the company excel in the near future.
Outline Your Accomplishments
Before you ask your boss for a meeting, be sure to have a list of all your accomplishments laid out. Whether you’ve worked for the company for over ten years or just about a year, you shouldn’t expect your boss to remember all that you’ve done during your time there. Create a document with the projects you’ve completed, the goals you’ve accomplished and other important things you’ve done. During your meeting, present this document to your boss so they can better understand how deserving you are for this promotion.
Continue to Excel at Your Job
When we realize it is time to move up in our careers, it can be hard to focus on our current work. Don’t make the mistake of failing to do your best work just because you are hoping for a promotion. No matter what you did in the past, it is your current standing with the company that will hold the most weight when making the decision to promote you. While you wait for an answer, continue to work as hard as you can to prove that you deserve it.
Make a Plan for the Future
The best way to prove that you deserve a promotion is to underline the goals you plan to accomplish in that new position. Make a rough plan for the things you will do in the months following your new position and how you can make this position even better than it currently is. Showing that you have thought about the company and their success in the long-term is a great sign of a leader.
Tailor to Your Boss’ Needs
Every boss is different, and while you may not always agree with everything your boss wants to accomplish, it’s important that you tailor to them, especially when looking to move up the ladder. At the end of the day, if your boss likes you, they are more likely to look to promote you to keep you around. Try to pick up smaller tasks to make your boss’ life easier and complete their most important projects first—these simple things can go a long way during the decision process.
If you are looking to move up in your career, an experienced recruiter can help get you there. At The Goodkind Group, we are always working to help our clients find and excel in their chosen profession and to continue to move up the ladder throughout their careers. For more information about how we can help you, give us a call at 212-378-0700 or visit our website for more information.
