Do you want to get ahead at work? Are you looking for progression or promotion? It’s not always easy. You will need to be strategic and work steadily towards your goal.
This post will explore this topic in more detail and explain seven things that you can do to boost your position and your standing in your company.
1. Training Courses
A training course could be an effective way for you to improve your standing in your company. For a start, a new qualification can put you in line for positions that would otherwise not be available to you. In addition, training can enhance your skill level and raise your profile as someone who is serious about their job.
If you have a general level of experience in, say management, then you may want to develop a specialism to broaden the opportunities available. There are many different courses available for you to take. For example, if you want to become a safety manager, the NEBOSH National Diploma is a popular health and safety qualification that you can obtain.
It’s worth noting that you need to make sure the course you take is recognised by industry leaders in your niche. If the course you take isn’t recognised by industry leaders, it won’t help you get your leg up and climb the proverbial ladder. If you are planning on taking a course, do your research and find a provider that is positively reviewed by credible customers. Make sure that the one you choose to work with has official accreditations and educational licenses, too. If your chosen provider does not have these things, they are not going to be able to give you the same level of care that a provider that does would be able to.
2. Meeting Management
Another good way of climbing the career ladder is to get to know your company’s management. The reason for this is very simple. People promote people they like. And to like you, first they need to know who you are. If you are on their radar, when that promotion comes up they are much more likely to think of you.
You need to make sure that when you are getting to know your company’s senior management you impress them. They need to know you for all the right reasons, in other words. If they know you to be a slacker or somebody who does not work hard, they are never going to consider you for more senior positions.
3. Making Connections
You don’t just need to make connections in your company, you should also try and make connections with individuals working in other companies, too. By making connections with people who work in other companies, you’ll be able to get your name out there in your industry and hear about job openings in different firms and organizations.
If your current company is not giving you a promotion or seems as though you will stay working the same job forever, getting out there and networking will help you to improve your chances of finally finding a job that you enjoy and that pays you an amount of money you are comfortable with receiving. One of the easiest ways to network with business professionals is on the LinkedIn platform. Every time you meet someone at a business event, follow up by asking them to connect with you on LinkedIn. It’s an easy and effective way of staying in touch and cementing a relationship.
4. Working Hard and Smart
You are never going to get a promotion if you are not seen as a person who is effective and gets results. Working hard is not about putting extra hours in, though weak managers often think it is. It is about making the hours that you do work count. If you can’t put in the number of hours other colleagues can, because of family or other commitments, then you will have to work harder to make your impact visible. Deliver reports directly to your manager, make sure that they are on time, accurate, useful and beautifully presented. Do everything to the best of your ability and share your successes.
5. Befriending Colleagues
There are lots of good reasons for getting along with colleagues. But in terms of promotion prospects, it’s worth remembering that the people you look out for on the way up are more likely to offer you a hand-up in the future. Any one of your colleagues could be a future boss. There is no end of mail room boys who ended up as CEOs.
Being nice to people costs you little and is a basic life skill as well! It doesn’t take much. Start with saying ‘good morning’ to everyone on arrival at work. If you are making a hot drink, ask people sitting near you if they want one too. Go along to all the social events associated with your colleagues. Small efforts like those can make your work life much more pleasant as well as put you in the frame for recommendations in the future.
6. Let them know
If you are looking for a promotion, then one of the most effective steps is just to let your supervisor and managers know. When you have a supervision session, ask for their advice on what you need to do to be considered for a promotion. What steps do you need to put in place? What could you be doing better? Are then any additional training courses or qualifications that would help?
Put together the evidence that shows you have followed their advice and that you are delivering on work goals effectively and present your case for promotion as professionally as you can. Dress for the role you want not the job you have.
7. Get a mentor
Many organisations have an internal mentoring programme to help staff work towards promotion and progression in the company. Ask your HR team if this is something that may be available to you. If there is not a formal system in place you could also approach a senior colleague from your company or elsewhere and ask if they would be prepared to mentor you. See our tips on how to set up an effective mentoring relationship here.
There are many different things that you can do to boost your job position. This post features some of the most effective. Make sure that you take the guidance given here in this post and incorporate it into your career ascension strategy.