So what if you are a dedicated employee who never misses work, rarely takes a lunch break and completes projects on time? You might think those types of employees are the ones who get promoted, right? Not necessarily.
The truth is you may indeed deserve a promotion after years of helping make your boss and employer successful. However, promotions don’t just happen incidentally. The mystique of being promoted is largely up to you in how well you connect with others and own your career development.
Being promotable does not always mean being visible in a positive way by demonstrating a good work ethic backed up with reliability. If it were, chances are you would have been promoted by now.
Deserving a promotion and receiving one are two different things. In order to be in line for a promotion there are some things you can actively do rather than wait for others to notice. One of the most obvious yet overlooked areas is in communicating with your boss on a regular basis. Don’t make the mistake of assuming your boss knows all of your strengths and contributions.
Another area that often keeps promotions at bay is not meeting enough people by staying in your comfort zone. If you need help in meeting others in your company, inquire about mentoring programs. Mentors are great sources of information and can help with introductions.
Communication is even more critical if you report to a boss in a different location. Frustration in being overlooked for a promotion could be lessened if your boss knew about your career goals and interests in adding to the company’s success. Take the initiative to meet with your boss, asking for additional responsibilities or new projects that interest you. Volunteer when possible for assignments that will help broaden your work experience.
The most important factor in being promotable is keeping up a good attitude even though you might have been passed over for a job you wanted, it’s never too late to start building a good case when the next opportunity becomes available.
120488598Be patient; promotions will happen as the company grows. In the meantime, focus on your job and make it a priority to accomplish the tasks assigned to you. Avoid getting caught up in the noise of office gossip and being sidetracked from what you do best. Listen for opportunities while developing good working relationships with hiring decision makers.
What causes good employees to be overlooked for promotions?
