Feeling Overlooked by Your Boss? Get the Recognition and Raise You Deserve!

Feeling overlooked at work is a common experience across all companies, industries, and job titles. It often happens because your co-workers and supervisors are too busy with their own tasks to notice your efforts. However, if your hard work goes unnoticed, it can harm your career, especially if you're hoping for a big promotion. In this article, I’ll discuss why your work might be getting overlooked and share some tips to help highlight the value you bring to the team.

Being Too Shy

Talking to others, especially your boss, about your achievements can sometimes feel like bragging. But if you don't tell people about the projects you've completed, they might not know. Your work might not affect them directly, or they might be focused on another department.

Being too shy in meetings can also make you less visible. If you don't join the discussion and share your thoughts, people might think you don't have any good ideas or, even worse, that you don't care.

Skipping Networking Opportunities

Don't just interact with your own team. It's important to connect and be known as a helpful person by colleagues throughout your company. For people to notice you, they need to know who you are. Look at your recent tasks. Are you only doing projects you can handle alone? When you work with a team, do you communicate openly?

Networking is more than just work. Find chances to know team members personally, like inviting them to lunch or coffee breaks.

Always Being a Follower

Often, the leader of a successful project gets all the credit. Even if your work was crucial, your manager might not know about it. You don't need to lead every team project, but if you're always just following, it will be hard to stand out. This is especially true in bigger companies.

8 Ways to Show Your Value

If this sounds familiar, I have some solutions to help. You don't need to try them all at once. Start with what feels easiest for you and see what works best for your situation.

Lead Today

Don’t wait for your next promotion to lead. There are chances to take charge everywhere if you look for them. If a meeting gets chaotic, someone needs to refocus everyone. If colleagues can't decide on lunch, suggesting pizza can help. Seizing these small chances not only makes people notice you, but also shows you as someone who makes decisions.

Give More Than Expected

Employees who stand out approach their job with a broad perspective and can do more than what's expected of them. They're good at showing their value, no matter their job title. Helping colleagues with problems and projects shows that you're skilled, dedicated, and a team player.

But don't take on others' tasks. Your contributions should highlight your own skills, not overwhelm you. Otherwise, you're just following again.

Support New Employees to Succeed

This next tip is often overlooked but can really work if you do it well. Be a helpful guide for new team members as they join. Focus on what they're good at and where they might need help, and find ways to support them as they settle into their new job. Stay in touch with them to strengthen your bond.

When new employees succeed, your reputation will grow. Your bosses will see your confidence and how you work well with others. This all shows how valuable you are to the company.

Do Well in Your One-on-One Meetings

Meetings with your supervisor are important for more than just talking about tasks and problems in projects. They're also a good time to make sure your hard work is being recognized. Your supervisor has their own job to do and might not notice all your successes. Start each meeting by telling them about what you've achieved and finished since the last time you talked. This helps them see how you handle your work and what you're doing.

If your company doesn't usually have these meetings, ask your supervisor about starting them.

Stay Away from Office Politics

It might be tempting to get involved in office politics to stand out at work, but it could backfire. Keep your interactions positive and avoid gossip or rumors. Also, don't downplay others' achievements to show off your own or take credit for someone else's success. This won't look good for you in the end.

Positive Disagreements

This doesn't mean you can't ever disagree with your co-workers! Constructive conflict means speaking up when you have a different opinion and working together to find solutions with your team. It might feel scary at first, but it's important to show that you're confident and good at your job. Listen to others, don't just talk. Think about their ideas and suggestions, and be open to different solutions. Encourage everyone to join in these talks. Good leadership skills and understanding emotions are important for this to work.

Getting better at constructive conflict takes practice, but it gets easier each time.

Help Your Manager/Lead

Managers/Leads and supervisors have a lot to do. They'll notice you if you help them save time, stay organized, and reduce stress. When they seem overwhelmed, that's your chance to stand out. Understand their day and what worries them. Pay attention and use your emotional smarts.

Expand Your Skills

If you don't have the right skills to solve your company's problems, it's hard for others to see how valuable you are at work. Take the first step to learn new skills by getting a certificate or degree in your field. This shows you're determined and committed, and it helps you get ready for your next job. You can also look for chances to learn different things in your company to get experience for new roles.