How to Get Promoted at Work: 7 Surefire Tips to Advance Your Career

You have done the grind and consistently achieved milestones. What's next? A job promotion may be in the cards for you, but only if you've done the right things to achieve it. Working on how to get promoted at work is a way to challenge yourself and advance your career. So, how do you set yourself up for a promotion?

Importance of promotions in your career journey

When you work hard at your job, it is only natural to desire recognition for your efforts. Getting a promotion is an exciting time. You get to step up and move out of your comfort zone, receive more responsibilities and added compensation.

Getting a promotion proves that you are ready to advance in your career journey. It drives your motivation and job satisfaction, making you a productive employee. Promotions are also a way for your employer to show how they value your growth and support your career development. 

When is the appropriate time to ask for a promotion?

You may be wondering when the perfect time to get a promotion is. Should you wait to see if you should be expecting one, or should you ask for one?

There is no set time frame on how to get promoted at work. Promotions are linked to your performance, not how long you are in the position. If you feel ready for a new challenge, there is nothing wrong with asking for one. 

Being ready for a promotion means feeling confident and capable that you can take on the responsibilities that come with it. You must show you're prepared for it. There are many ways you can prove to your employers that you are well-suited for a promotion.

Here are surefire tips on how to get promoted at work and advance your career journey.

1. Leverage your KPIs

Your KPIs or Key Performance Indicators are the basis of your progress at work. It determines if you are hitting your role's goals and growth within that position. Employers use KPIs when evaluating your performance and qualifications to be promoted.

It's always best to share your goals and ambitions with your employer, so they're aware and can guide you accordingly. Understanding your KPIs well will help you focus on your employer's expectations. You can use it to focus on the key competencies you need to hone to be deemed worthy of a promotion.

What you can do: 

Ask for feedback from your manager or check in to see if you are meeting their expectations. This way, you can constantly improve your work and show that you are open to growth.

2. Keep your skills updated

Knowledge is power. It pays to arm yourself with the technical skills to keep up with the trends and demands of your industry. It will show your willingness to grow and improve and your ambition to be the best in your field. 

What you can do: 

You can take advanced degrees if you are up for it, but online tutorials and courses will suffice, too. Constantly upskilling and reskilling is a way to better equip yourself to handle more responsibilities, effectively increasing your chances of getting promoted.

3. Get on a proactive mindset

Employers want their team members to take the initiative and anticipate tasks beforehand. They promote employees who step up to challenges. By having a proactive mindset, you showcase your efficiency and exceed expectations.

Taking the initiative does not mean taking on everything that comes your way. Knowing how to prioritise your work shows you are organised and productive at your job. It also displays your mental capacity to handle your workload – a great sign that you are ready to step up.

What you can do: 

Your proactivity can be displayed in the simplest tasks. This can translate to submitting your work ahead of the deadline or going beyond what your job title requires you to do. Managers reward people who go beyond what is asked of them. Reveal that you want to help the company reach its goals; put yourself out there and show them what you're made of.

4. Focus on your soft skills

When looking to get ahead at work, it takes more than hitting your targets to win a promotion. Your people skills are part of the equation too. This is why high performers fail to get promoted.

 If you are hyper-focused on your work, you tend to miss opportunities like socialising and building strategic relationships in the workplace. 

Here are some of the top soft skills employers value in an employee:

• Leadership: Supporting your team members and mentoring your junior colleagues.
• Communication: Effectively communicating with others and working in teams.
• Emotional Intelligence: Understanding other people's emotions and being open-minded to deal with disruptions.

What you can do: 

It pays to stay in the good graces of people you work with by being dependable and courteous. A great personality counts a lot if you're going after a job promotion. Engaging with people effectively will help you advance your career and build a good support system.

5. Get the word on your accomplishments

You may be bursting with great ideas, but none of it matters when nobody knows about them in the workplace. Communicating what you can do with your co-workers establishes the value you bring to the business. It makes you an indispensable member of your team who is creative and collaborative.

What you can do: 

Be ready to speak up in meetings or brainstorming sessions when needed. Put yourself in a position where you make life easier for others. Impress your bosses by stepping up to the plate and offering to take on challenges if possible.

6. Make your own opportunities

Sometimes, promotions might not be available in your current company or your team. It might be that your company has limited resources at the moment. This is not a setback for your career, though. It just means it may take time to get that promotion.

You need to set yourself up when the opportunity is available. Use it as an opportunity to gather all your resources and develop your skills for the next big ask. Don't get discouraged if you receive a rejection.

What you can do: 

Document all your accomplishments, even your small wins. Keep a brag sheet or folder of all your achievements. Better yet, keep your resume updated. You can use this as evidence to support your case and a reminder of your impressive outputs and results.

7. Exude confidence

Your passion for your job is your key to the career ladder. Employers want to promote employees who are confident in what they do and can do. Taking pride in your accomplishments and expressing happiness in your current position shows your readiness to take in more responsibilities.

What you can do: 

Present a persuasive case to your employer and keep the bigger picture in mind. Highlight how your achievements have helped your team and the company reach their collective goals. Advocate how your skills match the business's future strategic objectives. 

It always pays to aspire for bigger and brighter things in the workplace. It may take a lot of hard work and sacrifice to rise up the ranks, but if you take these tips and turn them into habits, a work promotion may not be so far off. Believe that you can be better, and these career goals will soon be within your reach.

(Read more: 5 Easy Ways To Self-Check Your Career Development)

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