If you've worked in the same place for a long time, it may be time to ask for a promotion. But if you want to be successful when you ask, then you need to do some homework, arrange a meeting, and know exactly what you are going to say (and what you are not going to say). If you want to know how to ask for a promotion and be rewarded for your good work and dedication, simply follow these tips.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to ask for a promotion
Step 1. Make a dossier about your work in the company
When you ask for the promotion, you should be prepared to provide details about the contributions you have made to the company as well as the reasons why you are requesting the promotion. If you meet up and just say "I want a promotion" you are unlikely to be taken seriously. If you want to plan ahead then you should be prepared to explain the following points:
- Make a list of all the goals you have met. Think of all the things you've done for the company in the last six months, the last year, or even the last five years, depending on how long you've been in the same position. Write down the projects you have worked on, the exceeded sales goals or innovative ideas that you have had and that have added to the company.
- It is important that you be as specific as possible. If you can quantify exactly to what extent these projects, sales, or contributed work contributed to the company, it will reinforce your order.
- Get ready to show that you have been exceptional. It is not enough to say that you have done a good job; what you have to do is show that you have exceeded expectations.
Step 2. Identify the position you want
Many people want to advance within the company with an important position, but discover that they have no possible movement in the structure of that company. If a search has been opened to fill a specific position, then you can apply without problems. However, if there is not currently a vacancy, decide on a position from which you can improve the company.
Once you find the position - or create it - you will need to find examples to show that you are the right person for the job. If you want to be a team leader, show your boss how well you've been leading smaller projects
Step 3. Choose the right moment
Many people fear asking for a promotion because they never seem to find it. Well, there is no perfect time to ask for a promotion, but there are times that are better than others. The best time to do this is during the annual or semi-annual review meeting. It is a meeting in which the achieved objectives and future objectives will be discussed. But if you don't want to wait, here are some points to consider:
- Consider the situation in your department or team. Have you recently joined with another department and is it a stage of change? If yes, you can take advantage of this scenario to be part of the change. However, if your department is reducing the number of employees and you feel the stress in the air, then better not to make any movement until things settle down.
- If your company has been going through difficult times and losing money, or if together with your colleagues you are trying to reach a deadline, then it is better to wait to complete that project.
- Understand who your boss or immediate superior is. Many people have their recipe for business. This recipe is different for each person. Determine when is a good time to ask for a promotion. For example, if your boss is about to take a week off, he's probably in a good mood. If they just lost an important account, proposing a promotion at that time is not the most convenient or effective.
- Don't wait for the perfect occasion for a long time. If you've been wanting to have the conversation for a few months but the perfect timing just doesn't appear, then it's time to kick in, even if you're not completely sure.
Step 4. Ask for a meeting
Once you know what you will say about your achievements, you need to know what position you want, and have a sense of when the conversation will take place. Time to start moving things around. Don't go into your boss's office in the middle of the morning to ask him to speak. Instead, meet him or send him an email saying you'd like to chat with him about your performance and potential.
Once you talk to your boss, he will already know what you want to talk about, so he will not be surprised to hear your point
Step 5. Do your research
While you don't need to say exactly how much money you want to collect when requesting a promotion, be prepared to talk about it if it comes up during the meeting. Decide what exactly your work is worth, both within the company and in the job market. Compare from the Internet to find out where you are located within the company and in similar positions in other companies.
Method 2 of 3: What You Shouldn't Do
Step 1. Don't think you are entitled to a promotion
The worst thing you can do when you walk into your boss's office to ask for a promotion is be 100% sure that you deserve it. Just because you've worked for the company for a certain period of time doesn't mean your time to move up has come. Get together with an open mind to what you can find. If you are overly convinced, your boss may think you are a bit arrogant or irrational.
Step 2. Don't think that you and your boss see the same thing
In an ideal world, your boss will be aware of your achieved goals and will be thinking similar to you in relation to the right time for a promotion. For this reason, although the objectives achieved are truly impressive, your boss may think that it is not yet time to advance to the next level.
- They may agree that you have achieved important goals, but they may also think that you need to develop other skills and add more experience before moving on.
- Keep an open mind. If he thinks you're not ready yet, ask him what you can do to be ready. Show them that you are determined to keep up the good work and that you will do whatever it takes to grow within the company.
Step 3. Don't compare yourself to other employees
Although you may feel that Rafa, your co-worker does not have the same experience or training as you but has nevertheless achieved a promotion before you, the worst thing you can do is complain because other colleagues have been promoted and you still have not said that you have made greater efforts than they. This will make you appear smug, capricious and, above all, it will show that you are not mature enough to grow within the company.
- Let's admit it. Maybe you feel that you deserve a promotion more than Rafa deserved. That doesn't mean you should demand that it be. Focus on yourself, not the people around you.
- Promotions happen for a number of reasons that you may not be aware of in detail. Don't try to guess why such and such were promoted instead of you or you will go crazy.
Step 4. Don't make your profile based on your personal life
Although some personal circumstances may have led you to need more money, and thus a promotion, you should avoid talking about your personal life when asking for a promotion. Instead, focus on what you have contributed to the company and what you plan to contribute in the future from the new position.
Don't mention the fact that you need money to pay for a new house, to pay for the expenses of a newborn child, or to pay for a divorce. They may be things relevant to you, but your boss will notice that you are not focusing on the company but rather on yourself
Step 5. Don't get frustrated if you don't get the promotion you want
If you don't get the promotion you asked for, don't complain. DO NOT talk to your colleagues about how bad the meeting was or what your boss told you, or that nothing you do will not change things. Words like that will start to pass from mouth to mouth and may come back to haunt you.
Be polite and stay calm. Ask your boss what you can do to be a better employee. You may feel frustrated, but you shouldn't express that feeling, or they won't even think of you in the future for a promotion
Method 3 of 3: Ask for a Promotion
Step 1. Start by talking about your accomplished goals
The list of personal goals achieved will be useful to you once the meeting time arrives. You should open the meeting by thanking your boss for the time to talk to you and that you want to highlight the success you have brought to the company, being as specific as you can in precise and concrete terms, as well as not forgetting the factors that make you stand out like an employer.
Step 2. Show that you are ready to take on new responsibilities
Once you have mentioned your accomplished goals, you can say what position you aspire to, whether it is a position that has just appeared or one that you would like to create. You should be prepared with a list of goals that you aspire to achieve in that new position, along with a plan to achieve them. As you do this, think about how to make it attractive when introducing it to your boss.
Step 3. Ask for returns
Don't do your whole speech without stopping: allow your boss to comment or make suggestions from his point of view about what he thinks about you and your skills. Although you should be attentive and mention the things we have already mentioned, you should arrive at the meeting thinking about having a conversation, not giving a speech highlighting your virtues.
Step 4. Don't be disappointed if your boss tells you that he thinks you still have a little more time for promotion
If your boss says you're not ready yet, don't be upset or feel bad. Ask him to develop a plan together so that you can talk about this again in the future.
Be proud of yourself for having taken the initiative, and you should know that from this meeting your boss will take your aspirations into account, even if the meeting was not fruitful
Step 5. Follow up
If you did not get the promotion you aspired to, do not accept what he tells you and pretend to do as if you had never raised your promotion. Instead, keep looking for a way to keep in touch with him to assess your progress and see if the efforts you are making are on track. If you do it without being too pushy, your boss will be paying more attention to you and will know that you have seriously proposed to demonstrate your capabilities.