The thing that we all dread but to move forward in your career this is essential. Before asking you need to consider how this is going to impact on the company? Is there room for you to be promoted? And why do you think you deserve to be promoted?
Below are some things to consider before taking that step and finally asking your boss for a promotion.
Information
Make sure you get all your facts together first – this includes your current job description, your current CV and match this with the job that you are hoping to get as your promotion. By going through this information carefully you will be able to answer any questions that your boss may ask you in terms of how you know you can do the new role, what have you done to learn these new skills etc.
Why do you want/deserve a promotion?
Why do you want a promotion? Make sure it is not for the wrong reasons. Make sure that before you ask your boss you know logically that you are capable of doing this role. Maybe for example you have been doing the role covering for someone but this is to end when the person returns to that role, but you have enjoyed the new position and proved yourself whilst covering and now you would like to be promoted and do this role full time. Remember there may not be room to be promoted so you do need to realistic.
Being realistic about your promotion
Be very realistic. You are not going to jump from trainee to director over night. If you actually want a promotion make sure that the job you are after is something you are capable of doing and it’s the next step up from where you are in your current role. Being unrealistic will never work and remember you would be completely out of your depth.
Long term goals
How will gaining a promotion impact on your long term goals? Are you following the same career path? Consider if you are being inpatient and whether you should be waiting a while longer as you do not want to be in a situation where you have no further to go in your career when you have reached the top. It is also important to realise that by rushing you may miss areas that you don’t learn which could become useful later down the line.
The grass is greener through promotion
If you think that your new role will be more exciting and challenging than your current role and this is the reason you want a promotion then there may be some truth in this, however, chances are that once the novelty has worn off that you will either feel overworked or bored again soon. Think about whether this is just down to your career or if you need a new change of scene?
Timing
Make sure your timing for asking for a promotion is picked carefully. Don’t do things in a rushed manner at the end of the day, it might be worth presenting the information to your manager and giving him or her chance to think about it and having time to come back to you.
Length of service
Look at your length of service. If you have been there for a short period of time then you will unlikely be taken seriously at the thought of a promotion at this time and if you have been there for a number of years it does not mean that you automatically have the right to a promotion.