subject: Want Promotion? Here's How To Impress Your Superiors [print this page] To get the promotion you desire, you need to strike a balance between being an ambitious go-getter and a loyal team player. You also need to develop the right skills and a knack to deal with office politics.
Here are some tips that can work in your favor:
1. Select a Company with Growth Opportunities
Before taking up a job offer, conduct some background research and find out about the various growth opportunities within that organization or industry.
The organization making the offer does not provide enough scope for professional advancement? You can still take up the offer. But be prepared to look for opportunities elsewhere after spending a couple of years at this organization and building up the experience section of your resume.
2. Get Excellent Performance Reviews
Always do the best you can at any task your are assigned. Be consistent in your performance. Over time, this will build your reputation as a dependable employee.
3. Ask for Performance Feedback
Approach your supervisor, department head or boss at regular intervals and politely ask for feedback on your work efficiency.
You could even communicate with them via email. If you want to improve your chances of getting a promotion, be prepared to hear constructive criticism.
You can learn about both your positive and negative attributes by doing this. This will also let your superiors know that you care about the quality of your performance at work.
4. Ask for More Responsibilities
When you do this your superiors will know that you are interested in taking up new challenges.
5. Project the Right Image
Look professional and act professional.
Every organization maintains a particular type of work environment. There are organizations that are formal and official about the way they run things. Come dressed in a proper business suit if you work at such a place. Invest in a neat corporate hair-style. Do not wear flashy makeup or jewelry.
Things are more relaxed and casual in certain other offices. It might be acceptable to come to work in a tee-shirt here. Look around and ensure you follow the often unspoken rules about office dress code.
6. Be Punctual
If you want to get promotion, be the kind of employee who arrives five minutes early and leaves ten minutes late.
7. Get Along with Co-workers
Be polite and considerate to co-workers. Offer a helping hand whenever you can. Refrain from making jokes that reflect a gender bias or betray religious or racial prejudice.
In the day and age of globalization, this is extremely important. You need to show your superiors that if or when you will be promoted to a managerial position, you will be able to lead a team where people come from different language, racial, social and religious groups.
8. Get Your Work Noticed
Without making it too obvious, try to come up with ways that will ensure your immediate supervisor understands the contribution you are making to the organization.
9. Get to Know Decisions Makers
Ultimately, every organization has key players who decide which employee gets to move up the hierarchy, and who does not. Get to know these key players.
Play golf with the boss. Join clubs frequented by your supervisor. Attend company events and try to get introduced to the big weights in the organization.
10. Network
Social networking matters. Attend seminars where you can rub shoulders with others from your profession. Go online and join groups where people from your line of work hang out.
Over time you will develop a network of people who will keep you posted about interesting opportunities and emerging trends.
11. Get a Mentor
The right mentor can open doors of professional success for you.
12. Upgrade Your Skills
Attend refresher courses. Seek out self-study and online learning opportunities. Constantly upgrade your skills and ensure that they are relevant in the modern job market.
13. Express Your Desire for Promotion
Mention your career goals at appraisal interviews or meetings. Casually let slip your interest in a particular job opening within the organization when you socialize with your boss.
14. Maintain a Record of Your Successes
Maintain a file which clearly and briefly details your past successes within the organization. Maintain both a hard copy that you can take with you to appraisal interviews and a soft copy you can mail to the key players at organization.
Finally, always remember that if you want to climb up the corporate ladder, you cannot afford to be complacent. Stop looking for short cuts and work towards managing your own career goals.
