You worked hard to get where you are now in your company, but you still want to go up even more. This can be a challenge since others will want to do the same, too. If you have been stuck in the same position for some time and want to move up, you need to take steps to make yourself a good choice for a promotion. Here are some things you can do that will get the attention of management, so you can snag that promotion.
Get Some Additional Training
A higher position means more responsibilities. This also means that you need to know what you are doing. Management likes to promote people who can prove that they know what they will be doing. You can do that by getting certification and training that complement the position you are aiming for. Fortunately, many companies often offer to send employees to training seminars and conferences. Many employees would rather stay at work and skip all the learning. But if you want a promotion, you should see it as an opportunity and volunteer.
If you are ambitious, you should consider going for a postgraduate degree or even a master’s degree. In the past, juggling classes and a full-time job would have been difficult. But thanks to the internet, it is now possible to get a postgraduate degree online. Getting further education can potentially lead to higher salaries and more opportunities, so seriously consider investing in it.
Go Above and Beyond in Your Duties
If there is anything that will catch the attention of management, it is a job well-done. But if you just do your job, then that is what your bosses expect of you. This won’t catch their attention. What you need to do is to go beyond their expectations. For example, when you have the job of doing a simple task like making reports on weekly sales, you should do your best to improve the processes.
Instead of doing what everyone else does, you can streamline the process and make it more efficient. This can allow you to finish the reports earlier. This will give you time to add more things to your report. Include projections and potential predictions for the market so that you can show off your talent.
Besides focusing on your work, you should also look at the company at large. If you notice that there is a problem or an inefficient process, then you should bring it to the attention of management. But don’t stop there; you should also propose a solution. Your bosses will appreciate the effort and will remember you the next time they are looking to promote someone.
Connect with Your Co-workers
When you move into a leadership position, one of the most important things is how your relationships are with your co-workers. Your boss will want to ensure that it is a good one when it comes to promoting people. They know that a good team works well with minimal friction. They will often ask your coworkers about how they feel about you.
If you don’t have a good relationship with them, you won’t like the results. At a minimum, your co-workers may not know enough about you to give you a recommendation. If you have competition for the promotion, they get the go-ahead because of better relationships. The worst-case scenario is if they harbor negative feelings about you. They can torpedo your promotion by bad-mouthing you.
Avoid this situation by doing your best to connect with co-workers. Don’t stay aloof at work. Mingle and chat during breaks. Do other people minor favors and help them out with their duties. If you are part of a team, ensure that you do your job so that others can do theirs.
Dress the Part
Some people say you should dress for the job that you want, and it can be very true. Management takes note of how people dress, and this can influence their decision on who to promote. This all comes back to how a good outfit can make you feel confident and professional. This can even affect how you behave at work, which is what your bosses want to see. So if you want that promotion, clean yourself up and go shopping for some good professional clothes.
Going up the corporate ladder is a great goal. It will take some effort, though, to stand out among the competition. If you want that promotion, you should put maximum effort into it so that you can reap the rewards.
