Welcome to viewpoint

From the first day in a new role you should already be thinking about your next step. Having a considered career plan is often the difference between those who achieve their career ambitions and those who don’t.

I’ve never been one to work in the same role for years, waiting and hoping that one day I will be recognised. I’m a firm believer in making it happen for yourself, and that’s exactly what I’ve done at each stage in my career. I’ve travelled around the world in order to progress and advance my skillset; starting out in the United Kingdom before moving to live in Australia, Japan and now China – although I understand that I’m fortunate to work for a global enterprise like Hays and not everyone has such extensive global mobility options.

Promotion doesn’t come to those who wait around patiently, it’s a reward for those who develop and execute plans of progression. They are won, not given.

Getting a promotion internally is often easier than it is by switching to another organisation to move up the ladder. This is largely because once you’re embedded in a business you’re familiar with the business’ values and objectives, whilst you should have also allied yourself with enough colleagues to help you progress to that next level. However, if you’re not getting the recognition you deserve – even after following the advice offered below – then don’t be afraid to leave the organisation and seek a promotion elsewhere.

A recent study conducted by Accenture found that fewer than half of all respondents were satisfied in their current job, but nearly three-quarters of them planned to stay with their companies. From my perspective, this is simply unacceptable. If you’re not getting what you want from your current employer then you need to think seriously about your career direction. But don’t be too hasty, you’ve got a few options before you tender your letter of resignation.

Go above and beyond the job specification

Those who coast by, happy to just about tick all the boxes are rarely those selected for a promotion. In order to step onto that next rung of the career ladder you need to be doing more than fulfilling your current job specification. You need to be exceeding it and, not even just that but, covering future territory of the job requirements for your desired role.

To get noticed you need to be pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, which you can do by saying yes to tasks and duties that you’re not overly familiar with. “A positive ‘can-do’ attitude in the workplace will help you get noticed by your boss and other senior stakeholders for the right reasons, increasing your chance of promotion or a pay rise,” says Susie Timlin in this Viewpoint blog.

Find yourself a mentor

Find yourself a mentor; someone more senior than you who is currently where you want to be in ten years’ time. This person can give you regular guidance on what skills you need to acquire and improve upon in order to be eligible for promotion.

The benefits of a mentor are two-fold. Not only can they offer you guidance and counselling, they can also be of benefit in referring you to senior management as a rising star – providing your mentor works in the same organisation as you.

Share your progress

Getting yourself recognised, and making senior management aware of all the great work that you’re doing requires you to raise your profile. The most obvious, although not the only, means by which this can be achieved is through direct communication with your boss i.e. a performance appraisal. If you have one coming up then perfect, this is your opportunity to let them know of all the progress you’ve been making and the ambitions that you have. Not everyone is comfortable with blowing their own trumpet, but if you don’t then who else is going to?

Befriend your boss

Performance appraisals shouldn’t be the only times when you have frank and honest discussions with your boss. Building a strong rapport and sound understanding with your boss is key to you furthering your career – they’re unlikely to promote someone they don’t trust or believe in.

This goes beyond just meeting deadlines and hitting targets. Be there for your boss and make it clear that you can be depended upon – not in a sycophantic way, however, as this will quickly cause resentment and unease amongst your colleagues. Help yourself by helping your boss, as expounded in this previous Viewpoint blog.

Be generous with your time

It’s not just your boss that you should be going the extra mile for; it’s your immediate team and co-workers too. By being generous with your time you’ll not only make yourself popular but you’ll also be able to diversify and expand your skillset. Always be ready to lend a hand with others’ projects, implanting yourself within different departments in the organisation. This will help raise your profile, win you allies and develop your capabilities.

And if all this fails, look elsewhere

Unfortunately there’s no guaranteed way to achieve a promotion, although the above methods will all improve your chances, as will this Viewpoint blog ’10 ways to get noticed by your boss’. If you’re having no luck in your current business – whether that be because of ”glass ceilings”, economic circumstances or lack of opportunity – then don’t be afraid to jump ship and discover a more appreciative employer elsewhere. Even if this means relocating abroad!

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