You’ve reached the one-year anniversary of working at your current company, and yet there has not been any discussion about getting a promotion soon… What gives? You deserve it, right?
Well, getting a promotion is not as simple or easy as you may think. It includes you receiving an increase in responsibilities and salary, and employers do not want to give you either “just because.” So, it is important that you remind yourself that it is not about whether you deserve a promotion, but rather if you have earned a promotion. This is exactly how your employer is weighing out the idea of increasing your pay and level of responsibility.
Here’s how you can prove to your employer as well as yourself that you have earned a promotion.
- Understand That It Takes Time and Effort!
You should not expect to get a promotion too soon. Most of the time, it takes a minimum of 1 ½ to 2 years before your employer considers your first promotion and at least 2 ½ – 3 years before each promotion after. Of course, it is okay to ask for a raise on a yearly basis. But a promotion, and the increase in the amount of responsibility that comes with it may take more time, considering that you need some time to perform and excel in your most recent promotion to prove that you are ready for another.
- Take on More Responsibilities
Whether you like it or not, it is entirely possible that you may take on additional responsibilities outside of the original job description in your offer letter at some point during your employment. You need to prove that you can take on enough responsibility worthy of a promotion by, at some point, testing the waters with more than what you signed up for, then excelling in that work. Once you have shown that you can handle this, you have proved that you can work towards earning a promotion.
- Ask For the Promotion
It is important to remember that you are not the only person at your place of employment, and thus, are not the only person that your boss is keeping track of. Sometimes they need a reminder that it has been a while since you got your last “bump up.” If you truly believe that your hard work has earned you a promotion, you should not be afraid to ask for it!
But there is also the possibility that you will not be able to just ask for a promotion; you will need to be prepared to present what you have done, and in some cases what you can start doing, to earn this increase in title and pay. To put it into perspective, imagine this: you walk into your employer’s office and ask for a raise. Instead of agreeing with you or realizing that they forgot how long it has been since the last time you received one, the only word they say is “Why?”
- Set Goals for Yourself with Your Employer
As mentioned before, receiving a legit promotion involves taking on more responsibilities. Making a case for your promotion includes setting goals for yourself with your employer. You should not necessarily jump right into major changes, but rather set goals that you can work towards to ensure that you can handle everything that is now being put on your shoulders. Additionally, sitting down with your employer to set goals for yourself shows commitment to your job, and that you will thrive in all your newfound responsibilities!
- Move Up, or Move On
Unfortunately, in some cases, there’s only so much room for growth within a company (and you should make sure to ask about this during your initial job interview for full transparency). In this case, you have the choice to continue working at the maximum level/pay or leave for a higher paying position with a different company that has more room to grow. To do this as professionally as possible, you should not be too quick to leave after accepting your current job or promotion. If possible, put in at least 1 ½ – 2 years before searching for that next step in your career.
It is recommended that you take as much professional caution as possible before deciding to depart from your current job. How you carry yourself throughout the process of leaving for another job can have lasting impacts and impressions, whether they are positive or negative. You should evaluate how your timing, actions, and gracefulness can affect the company that you are considering leaving.
You can refer to our older blogs on job seeking/departure tips including “How to Navigate the Infamous Application Tracking System,” “Wow Your Potential Employer During Your Interview,” and “Quitting Your Job Gracefully.”
Written by
Spencer Ford
Marketing Contributor
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