Of course, you are doing a good job, so why isn't your hard work getting the recognition you feel it deserves?
Here are 9 tips on how you can climb the career ladder faster and with greater certainty. Hard work and good fortune aren't enough - you need to place yourself right where you need to be.
1. Know Where You Want To Be.
Most people assume that promotion is something that happens naturally over with time and in some cases, that's true. However, if you want to fast-track yourself up through the ranks you must understand what your employer is looking for and demonstrate clearly to them that you meet the requirements.
Also, you need to know whether you desire a promotion within your current job or whether you would prefer to look for a position in another company?
If you know what you want from the start, you can plan the right strategy to help you get there.
2. Make Your Boss Your Biggest Ally.
If you are happy working for your present company and desire promotion within that company, you need to make your boss your biggest ally. Don't be afraid to make them aware that you want to know how they can help you do your job more effectively.
Schedule regular meetings as ask for honest feedback from your boss on how you might fit into the higher levels within the organization. Broaden your view of your company and get to understand how each department fits into the overall picture.
3. Know What's Required Before You're Asked.
You can help boost your profile with your boss by thinking ahead of the game. By making your boss's life easier, you will gain a good impression and be at the forefront of their mind if they should be asked for their recommendations for promotion.
For example, if there is a big project coming up, make it your business to collect some relevant research and list some suggestions about how your department might work on it. Your boss will appreciate your anticipation of what will be needed and may be well disposed to involving you in developing future project proposals.
4. Help Your Boss By Showing a Willingness To Go That Extra Mile.
It's just common sense that the prizes will go to those who are willing to work beyond the letter of their contract so by volunteering to stay late if an urgent task needs completing will demonstrate your commitment to helping your boss, to your job and to the organization.
5. Make Your Professional Development Ongoing
Whilst this doesn't have to be a masters level qualification, taking new and relevant courses may be useful in furthering your career. Don't be shy about letting people within your organization know when you have gained new qualifications either. You don't have to be arrogant about your achievements, just honest about what you can now offer as an employee.
6. Communicate Clearly & Openly.
In a similar vein, too many employees assume that their boss will magically become aware of their good work and mini successes they achieve in their jobs each week. Most times, this doesn't happen and so a large chunk of great work goes unnoticed and unrewarded. Make a habit of documenting a summary of your work and send it to your boss each month. If you are in charge of a team, give your boss an update on their successes as well.
7. Clothes Maketh The Man - Or Woman!
Helping yourself stand out in a crowd may be a simple as dressing the part. If everyone else dresses casually, make the effort to dress just a little more smartly. If you dress as if you are doing the job the level above, it helps others to sub consciously visualize you in that different role.
One great side effect of this is that it can also help to increase your confidence. Dressing smartly will make you feel better and thus act better.
8. Become A Name That People Know.
If your organization publishes a company magazine, write and submit a piece for it once in a while.
Editors frequently struggle to fill the pages and there shouldn't be a bar to easy inclusion. Writing regularly will mean your name will be seen by many people within the company, even if they don't know who you are personally.
In addition, make it a policy to chat to people from other departments and find out about what they do, the challenges they face and their successes. You never know when this will prove useful and if your name is know by a large number of people, you are more likely to be suggested when a position becomes vacant.
9. Do What Few Others Do - Look Out For New Trends and Useful Opportunities.
It's an increasingly competitive world these days and any marketplace you care to name is becoming more difficult to operate in. New projects are the lifeblood of any organization, so if you notice an emerging trend or spot a gap in the market make sure you alert your managers to any possibly opportunities. To ensure that you are credited with the information, take the time to write an internal report based on the trends you have identified. Just be certain that your name gets known by noting your name on the cover as author and by including a brief bio at the end.
If you take the time and make the effort to put these tips into practice, you will be putting yourself ahead of your competitors when promotions are up for the taking.
Don't leave your future career advancement to chance - make it happen for you!
No comments:
Post a Comment