5 Ways To Show You’re Ready For a Promotion

If you have been at your job for quite some time or if you have undertaken responsibilities that are outside your current job role, you may assume that it is time for you to get a promotion.

Typically, everyone wants to get promoted (who doesn’t want more money?!) but not everyone shows that they are ready for a promotion.

Here are five great ways that you can show your boss (and everyone around you) that you’re ready for a promotion.

5 Ways To Show You’re Ready For a Promotion

Work At The Next Level 

In corporate jobs especially, the way to get promoted is to already be working at the next level. That seems counterintuitive, right? Yes, but it is the main way how to get there.

Take a look at what the responsibilities and/or competencies are for the next level. Are you reaching them yet? Or do you still have areas to work on?

If you are already working on them, continue to do so. If you are not, figure out which responsibilities and/or competencies you are not reaching, and make a plan of how you can begin to reach them.

Each company is different, but from my experience, corporations typically expect you to work at the next level for about a year before officially promoting you.

Make It Known You Want A Promotion 

You can never assume that a promotion is on the horizon just because you have been working at the company for a long time or because you are operating at the next level. You need to make it known that you want a promotion. Have conversations with your boss about how you are actively seeking a promotion and working towards it and if he/she has any recommendations or any feedback that you can use to get there.

In addition, make it known to your colleagues and other executives at your company that you are working towards a promotion. The more people who have it on their radar, the more advocates and support you will have.

Find a Mentor And/Or Coach 

Having a mentor and/or coach in the office that is not your boss is so important. These people are you sounding board — who you can go to with advice and run things by, who know your current situation and where you want to take your job, who know what you are working for and how you are trying to achieve the next level.

They are the ones who are there to provide you with guidance on how to handle the path to a promotion. These mentors or coaches have likely been in your shoes before and can give you great perspective on how to navigate the road to the next level.

Make Your Achievements Known 

It can become easy to assume that all of your achievements and accomplishments are known. For the most part, they may be. However, you are your own biggest cheerleader and advocate.

It is important that you make your supervisors (i.e. your boss specifically) aware of everything you have gotten done. One great way of doing this is scheduling weekly or bi-weekly meetings (or calls, if you work virtual) where you can discuss everything you have done in the past week or so and everything that you are working towards completing in the coming days.

This will not only show your boss that you are working hard, but also that you are taking initiative, managing your time properly, and properly planning your work and the work of your team (if you have one). Additionally, use this time to fill your boss in on any extracurriculars you may have taken on or any new responsibilities or asks that may have been given to you by someone other than your boss.

Seek Feedback

No one is perfect. It is so important to seek feedback, especially if you are trying to reach the next level in your career journey. If possible, talk to people at that level and see what the difference is between the two levels.

Ask them what skills you should be brushing up on or adding to your repertoire if you want to be on that level. Ask your mentor or coach their thoughts on your work progress and where you can improve.

Ask members of your team or those you collaborate with frequently. Take everything they say professionally — not personally — and remember that by providing you with feedback, they are trying to help you and want you to reach that next level successfully.

The biggest takeaway is that promotions are typically not handed to you — you not only need to work towards them, but you need to make it known that you are seeking one. Having professional, open conversations with your boss about it is a must, and having an ally of support in your corner of other colleagues just makes it even easier, and helps you grow, too.

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