Posted

Don’t let the tough job market stop you from going for a promotion. If you’ve proved your value to your employer you can earn a promotion, no matter if layoffs are ongoing or imminent. Promotions can be had in any economy — to top performers.

That’s really the key: to earn a promotion you really must earn it by going above and beyond for your employer and truly being of value to the company.

Here are a few ideas you can try to help you earn a promotion quickly, in any economy:

First of all, keep a journal or record of your accomplishments. Be sure to write down dates. Brought in a big new client? Write it down. Revamped your department’s filing system? That goes in the journal. Even the seemingly “minor” accomplishments (you found a new paper supplier, saving your department $50 a month with quicker delivery) should be placed in your journal.

You’ll use this journal to show your boss when you go in for your annual review or when you approach her for your promotion. You can keep the journal to yourself until that time, but it’s also a great idea to send a report of your accomplishments to your supervisor regularly. You can do so each week by sending a “tasks accomplished this week” e-mail. Or you can send the accomplishments journal monthly, quarterly or every six months.

Regardless of whether or not you send the journal/report to your supervisor, at the very least, start one.

You have many duties in your position, of course, but did you know that one of the most important tasks you have is to make your boss a success? It’s true. If your boss is successful in his endeavors, you’ll be successful. So ask for a meeting with your boss and ask him his goals for the department and the challenges/obstacles he believes he faces. Ask for input about how you can help him reach those goals (and come up with some yourself). Then do all you can to help him do what he’s reaching for (and document how you do so, of course).

Without being asked, start doing the job to which you hope to be promoted. That is, start working at a higher level than your job description and tasks now require. Don’t neglect your current duties, of course — do more. Ask your supervisor to delegate some of his tasks to you. Start thinking like a supervisor or manager — what do you see doing that’s not being done? Where can your department be more efficient or save money?

Don’t step out of bounds of course, but if you start acting like someone who’s actually doing the job to which you want to be promoted, you have a great chance of actually being promoted into it.

Finally, and most importantly, ask for the promotion. Once you’ve performed at a higher level (and have the documentation to prove it), approach your boss. You can do this at your annual review, but if you’ve been working at this higher level for at least six months, don’t  hesitate to approach your boss for a promotion. If you haven’t been sending your boss your accomplishment journal, be sure to do so a few days before your meeting. Once together, you can point out to him that “I’ve already been doing the job one or even two steps ahead of me and here is my proof,” as you bring out your accomplishment journal.

Doing more than you’re paid to do, being of real value to an employer, keeping track of your accomplishment, and then asking for a promotion truly are great steps to take to get a promotion — no matter how the economy is faring.

Promote yourself to a great new career or job with Winston Resources. We have many wonderful positions at some of Manhattan’s best firms. Contact us today!


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *