Did you start this job with great dreams and promise of a glittering career, steadily rising through the ranks to glory, success and huge pay checks? Are you bitterly disappointed and confused as to why it isn’t a reality? Being passed over for a promotion is something that happens to a lot of people and, providing you’re actually qualified for the role, here’s several scenarios for failure and how to avoid them.
Lack of Self Promotion
You can just sit back and assume your stardom is going to be discovered like a Hollywood superstar. While good work will speak for itself you need to give it a helping hand to make sure the right people are aware of your success and hard work. Don’t be obnoxious and excessively tooting your own trumpet but make sure that credit is given where it’s due.
Do they know you want a promotion?
This might sound rather obvious but the hiring committee might not even know youDoes you want a promotion and are primed and ready to take on more responsibility. Mention to your boss that career growth is important to you and you want to be considered for a role with more responsibility.
Are you going after it?
You can’t expect a promotion to drop from the ceiling and land in your lap. You have to go after it. Hunt it down. Put in the effort to prove that you have what it takes to take on greater responsibility and work at a higher level than your current position.
Your boss isn’t impressed.
You may be pulling out all the stops and doing some ace work but for whatever reason you and your boss are not in sync. There is only one way to deal with a situation like this. You need to sit down with your boss and ask them directly what you can do to impress, what you need to do to prove that you deserve a promotion.
How to show you’re ready for a promotion.
Be clear.
Be clear to your superiors about what you want to happen and that your serious about making it a reality. Ask for support and guidance from you boss and find yourself a mentor to help you climb the ladder to success.
Go over and above.
If you want to shoot for the stars you have to go over and above what is expected of you. Show initiative and team spirit by searching for ways to excel.
Self promote.
Without coming across big headed and conceited make sure to communicate to senior management and key decision makers about your successes and indispensability to the company.
Cut your loses.
It is a valuable skill to be able to tell when to cut your loses and look elsewhere for the career satisfaction you’re looking for. The promotion of your dreams may have slipped through your fingers this time, but with the right dedication and self promotion the next one will be yours.