You Mean I Need to
Promote Myself to Get a Promotion?
5 Promotion Secrets
to Getting the Job You Want
By Ed Sykes
Time
and time again I hear the following from students in my career advancement
workshops:
“My
work speaks for itself…I shouldn’t have to tell anyone about my skills.”
“Why
did they hire from the outside, I am already doing what’s required of that
position?”
“Why
did they get the job, I have more skills and experience than they do?”
“How
come my name is never mentioned when promotions come up in conversation?”
The
answer is…you need to promote your skills and experience. Everybody quotes the
old saying, “It not what you know, but who you know.” That’s not quite right.
The correct saying should be, “It not what you know but who knows what you
know.” The people that can make decisions or have input on your career need to
know what you know. This will only happen if you promote, promote, promote your
special skills and experience.
Here
are five career advice secrets you can use to promote yourself for career promotions:
1.
Volunteer to Make a Difference
Volunteer for assignments that expose your skills. Look for especially
challenging projects that other people have declined.
Also
volunteer to mentor others within your organization. This will show and develop
your leadership, management, and interpersonal skills. Keep management posted
on your challenges and how you are working with the person you are mentoring to
overcome these challenges.
Volunteer to write a department or organizational newsletter. This is another
way to benefit a large group with your ideas while showcasing your skills and
ideas.
2.
Be a Solution Creator not a Problem Maker
Anybody can find problems within organizations. My experience is that you don’t
need to find them…they will find you. Sometimes they have a special skill of
finding problems and reporting them.
Develop the skill of looking at these problems as “opportunities for
advancement,” step back and analyze the opportunity, and develop ideas for
overcoming the problem. Make sure you communicate these solutions during
meetings, e-mails, memos, and conversations with management. You will soon be
looked upon by management as someone who can overcome obstacles and make things
happen within the organization.
3.
Handle the Next
Level at This Level
If you
are a manager and want to become a vice president then, start working like a
vice president. Find a vice president that is open to mentoring you for the
next level. Remember, that vice president will not be promoted to the next
level unless the organization sees that the vice president has developed someone
to take their spot. It might as well be you. Plus you can lighten their work
load.
Explain to the vice president what you want to accomplish so that everyone has a
clear understanding and that this is a win-win situation for all involved.
I
hear, “I’m too busy already to do this.” Well, let me ask you, “How badly do
you want the promotion?” We are all busy. It’s up to you to enhance your time
management and delegation skills so that you can take on these tasks that will
prepare you for the next level.
4.
Announce That
You Want It!
Many
times employees miss out on promotions because the decision makers and career
influencers do not know they are interested in being promoted.
Announce that you want to go
to the next career level!
Take
time to sit down with your supervisor, manager, director, etc. and let them know
you are interested in going to the next level. Ask them for their honest
assessment of your skills. Then ask what you need to do to be ready when the
next career opportunity appears.
Also
announce your career aspirations to influencers in the Human Resources
Department. Remember the more people they can hire from the outside, the less
work they need to do. Make it easy for them to hire you.
Announce it to any one who can influence the decision for your promotion.
5.
Join Groups to
Accelerate Promotions
Join
committees within the organization. This shows management that you care enough
to make a difference.
Also
join professional groups and associations. Professional groups and associations
are a perfect way to let influencers outside your organization about your
skills. Don’t just join, participant in the association’s activities to show
your creativity, teamwork, and other skills.
One of
the most important groups that you could ever join…is Toastmasters. This is a
worldwide organization with over 175,000 members dedicated to helping it’s
improve their public speaking, evaluation, think-on-your-feet, and leadership
skills. The main reasons you should join Toastmaster is the following:
§
Toastmasters give you the confidence to approach any opportunity with
confidence.
§
Toastmaster gives you the speaking skills to stand up in front of group and
present your point in a persuasive manner while others shy away from this
opportunity.
§
You
develop your leadership skills by learning how to do effective, positive, and
encouraging feedback and evaluations while learning how to empower the receiver
to do better.
§
You
have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills by volunteering for
positions at the club, area, state, regional, and international level. I always
say if you can’t get the skills at your organization, you can get it at
Toastmasters.
Join
and let your organization know you’ve joined these groups. I remember a student
telling me he wanted the job of Network Administrator in a large organization.
He never seemed to get past the first interviews. Then he joined Toastmasters.
He shared with me he gained the confidence and think-on-your-feet skills needed
to master his interviews. Shortly after joining Toastmasters, he landed his
dream job as Network Administrator at a major hospital. It can make the
difference for you.
I challenge you to apply these career advancement techniques. You will see
immediate career results and go to the next level in your career.
Suggested reading:
Three
Secrets to Telling Your Story for Career and Life Success
Five Secrets to Becoming the Perfect Employee
That Everyone Wants – Part One
Five Career Advice Secrets for Being the Perfect Employee
Everyone Wants on Their Team - Part 2
You Mean I Need to
Promote Myself to Get a Promotion? 5 Promotion Secrets to Get the Job You Want!
Seven Secrets to Being the Leader Everyone
Wants to Work For
Nine Ways Johnny Carson Can
Help You Run Outstanding Meetings
Five Secrets to
Gaining Credibility with Your Team for Outstanding
Results
How Appetizing Is
Your Feedback? (5 Steps to Giving Effective Feedback)
Ten Techniques for
Motivating Others Through Chaos
10
Action Steps to Motivate Yourself to Great Accomplishments
Eight Ways to Motivate
Part-Time Employees
Delegate to Accelerate Success
(How to Prepare
Yourself and Others for Success)
Appreciate to Motivate
(The Key to Successful Team Building)
