People who are promoted are usually the ones who show initiative. They are also the ones who are consistently willing to go the extra mile.
Here are some tips to help make yourself a potential candidate for that promotion.
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Be visible
Does your boss know who you are and what you do?
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Get to know your boss
Think of ways to help your superiors look good to his or her upper managerment. Support them in the best way you can and you will be sure to get noticed and appreciated.
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Be more productive
Get your job done better and more efficiently than ever before.
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Take initiative
Establish some goals for yourself, don’t just wait for instruction.
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Establish credibility
Establish yourself as an honest, hardworking and responsible employee.
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Be flexible
Adapt to new and different situations quickly.
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Speak and write well
Communication is the key to success in business. The ability to write succinctly and directly is important.
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Be a team player
If you can work well with others, your boss will recognise that you are a team player.
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Market yourself
Make an effort to dress appropriately and smartly for work.
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Getting a Pay Rise
Timing can also be crucial. Before you demand a pay rise that will catapult you into a high tax bracket, make sure you can back your bravado with cold hard facts. Think about what you did to create positive change, improve your employer’s bottom line, manage unruly employees or avert disaster.
The following are the Do’s and Don’ts when you are asking for a pay rise from your employer.
DO’S
- Time the request to coincide with one of your major accomplishments.
- Time the request to coincide with your company’s success.
- Do your homework. What do comparable professionals in your company or industry earn? Cite the source.
- Present your achievements in a way which makes it hard for the boss to argue against a rise.
- Focus on any agreed key performance indicators, successfully completed projects or reached sales targets.
- Examine how prosperous your company is and whether it can afford it.
- Socialising with the boss can also help, as long as it’s not over the top. There’s no doubt that if you have a relationship with your employer that’s positive and that has a social context as well as a business context, then you’re going to do all right.
- Be proactive: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
DON’TS
- Avoid asking when your company is in financial difficulties.
- Avoid times that are bad for your boss such as when they are ill or going through a personal crisis.
- Don’t threaten to leave unless you have a good back-up plan.
- Don’t be ignorant of tough economic conditions or troubled times your company might be going through.
- Don’t be too cocky, instead be confident.
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