How to set yourself up for a promotion

In a competitive jobs market, promotions can be few and far between, especially if you don’t have many years of experience under your belt. But with careful planning, the right approach, and some extra effort, you can put yourself on the right path to advancement.

Consider the following points when aiming for career progression:

Determine your career goals

Many people enter the workforce having no idea what they want to do five years down the track. So when it comes to seeking out a promotion at work, you first need to understand what your ideal next job looks like, and how it fits in with your overall career goals.

What skills have you learnt on the job that you’d like to refine? What facets of your current job do you really love doing? Write these down and any job titles that fit the bill, so you have a clear picture of where you’d like to be.

By doing this, you’ll be well placed to start moving in the right direction, and you’ll also have a better idea as to whether the job you want is achievable at your current workplace, or if you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

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Identify opportunities for training 

Once you know what you want to get out a promotion, you should start looking for opportunities to upskill or hone the skills needed for your next position. Consider what certifications you could take on that are relevant to the promotion you have in mind and try to learn skills that go above and beyond the position you’re currently in.

You’ll not only be arming yourself with the right tools to take on a more senior role, but your manager and potential new employers will notice that you’ve taken initiative too.

Seek out a mentor

If there’s someone whom you respect and have a good rapport with at your current workplace, approach them to see if you can start a more formal mentoring relationship. By shadowing someone senior to you, you’ll learn valuable skills and insights into what their daily responsibilities are, as well as their work ethic.

Mentoring is an invaluable opportunity for one-on-one training where you’ll receive practical advice and on-the-job experience – both of which are key to preparing yourself for the next step in your career.

Make sure your manager knows you want to be promoted 

You might picture a promotion as being a surprise call into the boss’s office that ends in you getting a handshake and a new title, but it’s not usually the case. You need to advocate for yourself and make sure your boss is aware that you’re ready to make a move.

Set up a meeting to discuss your intentions, and remember to keep it positive, even if you’re sick of your current job and itching to move on. This is the opportunity for you to showcase your worth, so go in ready to share your achievements to date, your goals moving forward, and some suggestions for ways you could take on extra training or responsibilities, even if a formal promotion isn’t available right away.

This discussion has a dual purpose; it will make your worth and intentions known to your manager, and you’ll get a better idea of whether a promotion is feasible at your current workplace (soon or further down the track), or if you should start looking elsewhere.

Keep job searching 

If you’ve decided you won’t find the opportunity you’re looking for at work and started looking elsewhere, stay focused and don’t get disheartened if you don’t land that perfect job right away. Be sure to tailor your resume to suit each job you apply for, think of interviews as practice even if you don’t get the job, and continue taking steps to improve your professional worth, as you’ll reap the benefits in the long run.

For more advice on finding a job to suit you, talk to a Page Personnel recruitment specialist.