Moving up the career ladder isn't always as seamless a process as you might hope, and sometimes working hard isn't enough to get you noticed by your superiors.
But there are ways to help boost your chances of getting a promotion.
From upskilling to making those around you aware of your achievements, there are some subtle methods of letting your boss know you’re interested in expanding your role in the business.
If your workplace is looking to invest in someone, ensure you’re the first person in mind by taking these helpful tips on board.
1. Don’t be afraid of your achievements
If your boss is someone who may not realise all the ways you make their job easier, make sure you’re not afraid of letting them know what you bring to the table.
Highlighting the work you do and how it helps the team around you is a great way of starting negotiations for a promotion.
If your work is helping the business as a whole to operate more efficiently, develop or expand further, it’s important to take note of your own contributions to that success.
2. Know your worth
Sometimes we get so busy focusing on doing our jobs correctly, we forget all about the value we add and the role we play in a workforce.
If you feel you’ve put in a lot of effort and added value to the business through your work, your salary should reflect that.
It’s not always easy knowing how to put a price on the work you do, but you could start by discussing your rate of pay when you started working for the company and what has changed since then - perhaps the role has changed, maybe you’ve taken on more responsibility, or your workload is greater than it was previously - and try to determine if your employer agrees.
3. Timing is key
It's not all about how you ask for a promotion, the matter of when you decide to broach the subject is also important to consider.
If, for example, the company you work for is going through financial trouble or has had a decline in sales or revenue, this may not be the best time to discuss monetary rewards.
However, if the company is doing well, you shouldn't put this conversation off. Financial discussions can be difficult to have with employers, but if you feel it’s time for your addition to a business to be recognised, you shouldn’t feel deterred, particularly if the business is flourishing.
4. Keep the pressure on
It can take a lot of courage to meet with your boss and ask for what you want, don't let that effort go to waste. If you don’t get an answer there and then, ask for guidance on next steps and timelines. If some time has passed and you haven’t heard anything back, you can use the timelines they provided as a way to bring the topic up again.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to put in the work to get to where you want in your career, and if a promotion is part of your plan, getting yourself noticed by your boss is definitely the way to go. As the saying goes: Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
5. Upskill your way to a promotion
A clever method of getting yourself noticed for a promotion is by adding another string to your bow through upskilling, this will help ensure your presence and unique set of skills add value to the business.
Why not look into starting a part-time or postgrad course in your field to help bolster your skills and freshen up your CV? Not only will it impress your employer, but demonstrating your drive for personal growth will also stand to you when it comes to seeking out future jobs down the line.
National College of Ireland has a wide range of postgraduate and part-time courses that would be ideal for someone looking to upskill in their career. Taught by expert lecturers who not only have reputable experience in academia, but also have established careers in their chosen industry, NCI offers a range of courses for anyone looking to develop their professional skillset and education.
Find out more about the courses enrolling for this September at NCI’s next virtual open evening. Register your interest in attending on ncirl.ie.
