Getting a promotion in a large company can be challenging, but not impossible. If you want to advance your career and stand out from the crowd, you need to have a clear strategy and follow some proven tips. In this article, we will share with you six effective ways to get promoted in a large company and achieve your professional goals.
The first step to getting a promotion is to know your value and communicate it effectively. You need to demonstrate how your skills, knowledge, and achievements contribute to the company's success and goals. You can do this by documenting your projects, results, and feedback, and sharing them with your manager and peers. You can also showcase your value by taking on extra responsibilities, solving problems, and suggesting improvements.
This is absolutely fabulous. Knowing your value is a great testament to one’s knowledge, confidence and abilities. However, this must be well balanced with humility. This attribute brings everything home as one tends to earn huge respect by reason of one’s competence, capability and sense of purpose. It actually starts from the day you join the company either as a freshman or mid stream career movements. Taking charge of your responsibilities and exuding great tenets of leadership that is baked in general and technical knowledge makes you a candidate for promotion any day. You must also watch out for distractions as competitors or other companies may embark on a poaching spree, don’t walk on this lane without a coach and mentor.
The second step to getting a promotion is to build your network and relationships within the company. You need to connect with people who can support your career growth and influence your promotion opportunities. You can do this by networking with colleagues from different departments, joining cross-functional teams, and attending events and workshops. You can also build your network by asking for mentorship, advice, and referrals from senior leaders and experts.
In my experience, I agree that building the internal network is a great pathway to getting promoted. Being able to collaborate by joining project teams stands high on the list and one’s interpersonal skills too. I must also note that it is important that you build the external network by joining your professional body and ensuring you make yourself available for service. Many a time folks just opt to pay their subscriptions and it ends there, No. You must leverage the opportunity to serve and build a mentor pool in your industry, get a good grasp of the broad issues and with time you will be recognized as a notable resource within and outside as you will be a strategic contributor and player in the industry.
The third step to getting a promotion is to learn new skills and expand your expertise. You need to show that you are willing and able to learn new things and adapt to changing needs and expectations. You can do this by taking online courses, reading books and articles, and attending webinars and seminars. You can also learn new skills by volunteering for new projects, tasks, and roles that challenge you and expose you to new areas.
The fourth step to getting a promotion is to seek feedback and act on it. You need to show that you are open to constructive criticism and eager to improve your performance and potential. You can do this by asking for regular feedback from your manager, peers, and customers, and listening to their suggestions and recommendations. You can also seek feedback by setting specific and measurable goals, tracking your progress, and celebrating your achievements.
The fifth step to getting a promotion is to express your interest and ambition. You need to show that you are passionate about your work and motivated to advance your career. You can do this by discussing your career aspirations and plans with your manager, and asking for their guidance and support. You can also express your interest by applying for internal vacancies, promotions, and transfers that match your skills and goals.
I agree 100%. You have to show you want a promotion. You can plan a talk with your boss. In the meeting, tell your boss that you like your job but you want to do more and move up in the company. Talk about the good work you have done. Ask your boss what you can do better and how you can get a better position. Show that you are ready to work hard and learn new things.
The sixth and final step to getting a promotion is to be professional and respectful . You need to show that you are a reliable, trustworthy, and positive team player who can handle pressure and challenges. You can do this by being punctual, organized, and proactive, and following the company's policies and procedures. You can also be professional by respecting your colleagues, customers, and managers, and avoiding gossip, conflict, and negativity.
From my experience, ‘Visibility’ also plays a major role in getting a promotion. One of the ways you can be visible in the business is by volunteering to serve in cross functional project teams. This can be achieved by indicating to your boss and asking for his support to nominate you to a project team being constituted , you can equally offer yourself by going forward, but it is very important that your line manager is in with you. Cross functional projects widen your scope of knowledge about the business, grants visibility and also prepares you for a seat on the table when the time comes. This is a simple yet difficult piece, because most people shy away from ‘more work’, it takes managing yourself in time.