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WHETHER YOU’RE IN your very first job, or you’re someway up the career ladder, you’ll definitely have your eye on a promotion at some point.
No matter how early it is into your career, it’s never too soon to lay the groundwork for moving up the ranks and we have seven great tips to help you grab that dream promotion.
Best of luck – and let us know if you have any tips for getting a promotion in the comments below.
It might seem too obvious to merit mentioning, but a key factor in getting promoted is being seen as a professional – all the time. This means dressing for the job you want, behaving professionally at all times, not complaining about work in work, being positive, solving problems not creating them, and generally being an all-round asset to the team and business.
Not only should you be planning your day and week to make sure you’re hitting all your targets on time, you should be planning your year and career too.
Knowing where you want to go in your career makes it easier for you to plan to get there – laying the necessary groundwork in terms of tasks you need to have mastered or projects you need experience in.
Fail to plan and plan to fail…
While making sure you’re doing all the tasks required of you, it’s a great idea to keep an eye open for opportunities to impress.
Whether that’s taking the lead on a project where possible, or initiating a plan for something that needs doing off your own bat, there are endless opportunities available to impress.
Again, it doesn’t matter what point you’re in your career there will always be someone more senior than you, so finding a mentor to help you navigate the way is imperative.
It doesn’t have to be someone in your office, you could find someone in the same field as you and ask them to mentor you – even meeting up for a coffee once a month.
As important as getting someone ahead of you in your field to look up to, it’s equally important to have a group of peers that you can network and share experiences with.
Heading to industry events, networking meetings or just being on the lookout on LinkedIn or similar professional sites will rustle up a wealth of connections for you to keep in contact with, learn from and find out about opportunities from.
If you’re looking for a promotion, make sure the right people know. Your boss might think you’re perfectly happy doing what you’re doing unless you let them know that you’re looking for growth opportunities. Help them out by applying for internal roles where appropriate, or just having a word in their ear at the right time.
Showing your bosses that you’re intent on self-improvement and dedicated to your career is a way to impress them and have them bear you in mind when promotion time rolls around.
A great way to do this is to continue on with your education, such as by doing a masters, as it shows long-term commitment to the field and your role, and will help you negotiate for a better salary when the time comes.
DCU Business School was recently accredited by the AACSB, putting DCU Business School in the top five percent of business schools internationally. If you’re considering changing or furthering your career, head over to DCU Business School and see how you can achieve your ambition with a Master’s degree.
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