Getting Real About Promotions: Do you really want it? Here’s how to get it!

Have you ever asked for a promotion? Unfortunately, most of us aren’t taught the importance of advocating for ourselves and asking for a promotion when we’re overworked and underpaid. Just thinking about the process can be overwhelming, daunting, and confusing. That’s why we’re here to help you navigate all of it! We’re happy to bring you this month’s edition of the “Conquer Your Career” series and this time, we’re talking about promotions. 

The “Conquer Your Career” series for bold and unapologetically talented professionals who are ready to build more meaningful and fulfilling careers. Each month, Chelsea Jay and Portia Obeng will break down some of the most controversial and trending topics related to the job search. Please read our previous articles, “Everything You Need To Know About Asking for a Raise” and “How to Win at Interviews: Selling Yourself as ‘The One’” and leave a comment under the article to let us know what you think! 

Do you want a promotion? 

When you hear the word “promotion” do you get excited or do you start to sweat? In today’s society, professionals are encouraged to go after any and every promotion they can land. In fact, many professionals have grown up being taught that a promotion signifies a “job well done” or a certain level of “success,” but the truth is, not everyone is built for (or wants) a promotion. 

Do you know which category you fall under?

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a “promotion,” but you need to be certain about if and why you want one before moving forward with the request.

Before putting it out in the universe and involving everyone you know (family, friends, coworkers, etc.) you need to sit down, self-reflect, and be honest about your intentions. A few great questions to ask yourself are;

1.  Why do I want a promotion?

2.  What do I believe a promotion will do for my career?

3.  What are my long-term career goals and will a promotion help me get there faster?

4.  What am I trying to gain? Be specific.

5.  Am I looking for more experience, respect, a salary boost, a better title?

Having a clear understanding of what your needs are will help you guide the conversation with your supervisor once you’re ready to sit down and talk. Based on your answers to your questions, you may even realize that you don’t need a promotion to reach your end goal. For example, if money is your only motivator, you may just need to ask for a raise (good news, we covered that topic last month and you can check it out here: Everything You Need To Know About Asking for a Raise).

Once you have clarity on what you want, you need to ask yourself, “why do I deserve this?”

Why do you feel that you deserve a promotion?

If companies had an anthem, it would probably be Janet Jackson’s “what have you done for me lately.” All jokes aside, your career should always consist of accomplishments, problems solved, and wins you achieved for the company. Businesses thrive on results and they hire, promote, and reward employees that help boost their bottom line.

So the question truly is, “what have you done for them lately?” When considering a promotion you need to know three key things.

1.  What you’ve accomplished.

2.  How you’ve solved their problems and crushed goals.

3.  What you want to do for them next.

If you’ve spent the last few years staying in the office late, volunteering for new projects, leading committees, and being the “face” of the organization, then you have the right to feel like you deserve a promotion. The important actions on your part consist of keeping track of your results by taking notes and being comfortable talking with your leadership team about everything you’ve done. Do not be afraid to toot your own horn! Once you have your ducks in a row with the “proof” it’s time to set up a meeting!

What do you say during your meeting?

It’s very understandable if you’re nervous before the meeting where you’re going to present your case for a promotion. Not knowing what is on the other side of your ask can be daunting and overwhelming. To calm your nerves before the meeting, you can practice what you’re going to say with a friend or family member, listen to a song that makes you feel like a superhero, recite some affirmations in a power pose, or pray and meditate.   

The length of time you’ve been working in a role doesn’t matter; the company doesn’t really care if you’ve been in the same role for two years and you think it’s time for a promotion. As previously mentioned, the company cares about how you’re working to help meet its goals and mission, and impacting the bottom line. That being said, make sure you have a copy of your current job description and the job description of the role you’re seeking to be promoted to. During the meeting, explain how you have been overdelivering in your current role and provide specific examples that demonstrate you’re capable of or already doing responsibilities in the role you’re seeking. 

When stating your examples, be as specific as possible; for example, if a responsibility in the new role requires supervisory experience, and you haven’t had long-term experience supervising, speak to the times you managed team projects or interns. Whenever possible, speak to the outcomes and results that happened due to the work you did. Do not be shy or humble. You’re not “bragging”, you’re simply letting them know what you’ve done to help the company meet its goals and mission, and bottom line.

What happens if they say no?

If you present your case and your promotion is approved, congrats!! Ensure that you have all of the necessary information to begin the process of transiting to your new role. 

If they say no, you might experience a range of emotions; frustration, disappointment, rejection. All are very understandable! But try your best not to take the no personally. The good thing is you have several options to move forward. First, ask for concrete feedback and exactly what you need to do to secure the promotion, and ask if you can present your case again in 3 -  6 months.

With this feedback, you can take control of your career and be intentional about which skills you’re going to strengthen and how you’re going to use them. Look up courses, workshops, conferences, or other professional development opportunities that will help you grow, and make sure your supervisor knows that you’re putting in this work. Don’t just put your head down and do the work, hoping they’ll notice you. Make them notice you by speaking up about the work you’re doing and the results you’re delivering. 

If they can’t give you specific responsibilities that you need to do and the feedback is vague and flaky, you have a decision to make. You can stay and continue to advocate for yourself and find a sponsor to also vouch for you. A sponsor is someone who is able to guide and influence your progress within the company. Or, you can pull a Lebron James and decide to take your talents elsewhere. Trust your discernment, you’ll know if you need to start looking for a new role at a new company. 

You Got This!

Be kind to yourself during this process; it’s not always easy at times, but you should be incredibly proud of yourself for advocating for yourself regardless of the outcome. Let us know how it goes!

Chelsea Jay is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), Online Branding Expert (NCOPE), and podcast host of “Chelsea’s Career Corner.” She also holds certifications in career and life coaching. 

Chelsea is known throughout the career development industry for her bold, unapologetic, and straight shooter methods when it comes to tackling the job search, building professional brands, and climbing the ladder quickly (with less stress). She helps professionals across the globe rebuild their confidence, improve their mindsets, develop (and execute!) goals and most importantly, building a career with purpose.

Portia Obeng is a social media strategist with nearly 10 years of experience in social media strategy and content management. She started before Snaps were chatted, Instagram had stories, and Tiks were toked; and her current specialties are Instagram and LinkedIn.

She works to help people and organizations understand how they can use social media, not let social media use them. She encourages them to step away from continuous mindless scrolling and figure out how to use social media to enhance their work, lives, and personal brands. 

Portia loves being Ghanaian, spicy food, dancing, live music, listening to podcasts, experiencing new countries, and reading a good book (preferably on a beautiful beach in Ghana).