How to get promoted at work

you are like me and think that just doing good work will be enough to get you noticed and promoted. Well that is not the case. 

Today let’s talk about how to get promoted and noticed without feeling cocky.

Okay, so you want a promotion. Here are some tips on how to make that happen: 

I’m stating the obvious here, but you need to first do good work, and then start going above and beyond. 

And please notice the order on that! Do well at your job first! So many times people want to start doing extra, something else or thinking they’re going the extra mile,  but they aren’t doing a good job at the thing they were hired for. Master your job and then add to it!

Talk with your supervisor about what you want. Here’s the thing, we all want to be magically recognized for our work, but that doesn’t happen often. It doesn’t mean they don’t see you’re doing good work, but often I’ve found supervisors don’t make the connection of what that should mean for your future. 

Let them know you’d like to grow in the department or company. Be specific about the title you would like to go for. Ask what you need to get there. 

Make sure your boss knows what you do. Again, this sounds obvious but so much of our work can get taken for granted. Ask your boss if and when they would like status updates from you. This will help you all stay on track as well as continually show them all that you are doing. 

And then highlight your work. 

One way is to forward any thank yous had supervisors who told me to forward them any thank you emails I got. It helped them when writing my annual review, but it helped me that any time I received one, it was another ping to them of “Look what I’m doing!”

Another is to have a monthly report or quarterly report where you include everything you do with numbers. Quantifying helps show how you’re improving things for the company.

This can feel like a real braggy moment but remember you are simply trying to keep top of mind. Supervisors are busy and this helps them out. 

And if you have a conversation and the promotion is a year away, 6 months away, etc. schedule check-ins to make sure you are on track for it. I’ve heard stories of people being promised promotions 1yr + in advance and then the promotion never comes but they keep dangling the carrot.