How to Show Your Boss Your Potential

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Edna Crane

Whether you are just starting out in a new position, or you have been in your role for a while and are beginning to feel that it’s time you receive a promotion, you are going to want to take active steps to ensure that your employer sees your potential. This tends to be easier said than done, especially if you are working within a particularly large organization. Chances are that your employer has a whole host of tasks to focus on and you’re going to have to do a lot to stand out from the crowd. But it is possible and you could greatly benefit from recognition and acknowledgment of your achievements. Here are a few steps that you can do to help your employer to see your potential!

Request Progress Meetings

Most companies will offer progression meetings through your probation period. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that you are settling into your role properly, that you correctly understand what is expected of you, and that you are keeping up with your workload. If you haven’t received these, now is a better time than ever to request them. They help you to keep a track of how things are going and ensure that you and your employer are on the same page. If you have finished your probation period, you may want to continue these meetings on a more informal basis. Put in a request with your employer—they may be able to accommodate this.

Understand OKRs

OKR stands for “objectives and key results.” When you begin any project, your employer should set out OKRs. These will help you to understand what you should be aiming to do within your position and with your work, as well as what results are expected to exemplify that you have reached the objectives that have been set out. When you are provided with OKR objectives and key results, you should do your utmost to meet them. Most companies will have specialist software that allows you, your manager, and your employer to track your progress. This ensures that your hard work will be acknowledged and recognized, as it will be laid out for everyone to see.

Undertake Extra Training

Training in areas pertaining to your role shows dedication and commitment to your position. Short courses, or even extensive courses, can also provide you with knowledge, skills, and an in-depth understanding of your field that can greatly benefit the business that you’re working for. A qualification on your resume can also officially qualify you for positions higher up in the chain of the corporation you may be working for. So, why not engage in a little education or pursue higher education associated with your role? Sure, this will be intense. Especially if you are currently working full time. But it’s a pretty effective means of climbing the career ladder.

Dedicate Yourself to Presentations

If you have to give a presentation, don’t engage with it in a half-hearted manner. Very few of us actively enjoy giving presentations. But it’s a great opportunity to showcase your talent, project yourself as a confident and competent individual, and carve a space for yourself in your employer’s memory. So, go all out and really make an effort. This is a great opportunity!

Steer Clear of Office Politics and Gossip

Office culture generates tensions, friction, rivalries, and gossip. But avoid this at all costs. While you may spend a lot of time with the people you work with, you should remain professional at all times. Getting involved in arguments, pettiness, or becoming problematic in the workplace can lower your employers’ opinion of you. Just remember that serious problems do not fall within this category – if you have experienced harm at another’s hands or if you feel that someone is treating you in an inappropriate manner, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact HR.

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Request a Promotion

As the old saying goes, if you don’t ask, you don’t get! So, if you feel that you are capable of taking on a promotion and that you deserve a promotion, you can simply ask for one. There is, of course, etiquette surrounding this type of interaction. You can find out more about this here!
It can be extremely frustrating to work hard and feel that your potential is going unrecognized. But you do have to play an active role in making yourself noticeable to your employer. Hopefully, the above advice and information will help you to stand out to your employer!

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3 Surefire Strategies to Get a Promotion at Work

Posted on July 2, 2018July 2, 2018 by Edna Crane

If you’re ready to get a promotion at work, it’s time to start working—for real. If you’ve been in the same position for a while, you’re probably working on autopilot, doing the same tasks in the same way without really challenging yourself. You have to break the cycle if you want a promotion.

To break out of a repetitive (and probably boring) work cycle, you have to light a fire under yourself and start making changes. Here’s what to do:

Upgrade Your Skills

Being in the same position for more than a few years can lead to stagnation in your professional development. If you’re looking for a place to start your plan to get a promotion at work, start by finding ways to improve your skills.

The internet is full of professional development opportunities. You can take webinars, training courses, or full-on post-graduate certificates that will improve your skillset and help you land the promotion you want. If you are worried about going to college while working, almost every college has online options now. You should be able to study in the evenings, online and by utilizing apps for team collaboration.

Prove Your Worth to Get a Promotion at Work

Most businesses would rather promote internally than hire an outsider to take on leadership roles, so if you’re looking to get a promotion where you already work, it’s easier than you think. Start by talking to your immediate supervisor about your career goals. Tell her that you love what you do, but you think you’re ready for more responsibility. Work with her to find new ways of taking on more responsibility in your current role while waiting for a promotion vacancy.

Look for ways to make yourself indispensable in your current position. Here are a few ideas:

Take on challenging projects no one else wants to tackle.
Anticipate your supervisor’s needs and prepare ahead of time. For example, if you know your boss needs a report on Friday, make sure she has it on Thursday.
Speak up and offer new ideas in meetings.
Offer to plan an event.
Volunteer to handle a tough client, then do it with so much grace that the tough client tells your boss how wonderful you are.

By making yourself seemingly irreplaceable, your employer will not take too kindly to the fact you may be looking for better opportunities elsewhere. It is not unheard of for companies to create positions solely to accommodate a highly valued member of staff.

Apply to the Competition

If you’ve tried everything and you simply aren’t getting a promotion at your current job, then it’s time to start looking elsewhere. Start by researching your current company’s competition. Find out what positions they are filling, and craft your resume and cover letter to fit those positions.

Turn on your recruiter alert on LinkedIN and make sure your profile is up to date. Start posting relevant articles about your industry, too. Make yourself look like the expert that everyone wants to hire.

When you are ready to apply for jobs, remember that you need to alter your cover letter and resume for every job you apply. Employers can spot a generic template from ten miles away.

One mistake we’re hearing a lot lately is applicants are making small, silly errors that result in immediate “no’s” from hiring managers, like misspelling the company’s name or leaving the name of the last company to which you applied listed on a cover letter. Addressing the wrong hiring manager is a big one, too. Do your research, and double-check your materials every time.

Ensure that you actually fit the person specification in the job description and, while it’s important to sell yourself, don’t venture into the world of stretched truths. If the job is asking for at least a decade managing multi-million dollar budgets, don’t try to list you experience managing your sorority’s entertainment fund as a qualification.

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Getting a promotion at work isn’t as hard as you think. Get yourself noticed, upgrade your skill set, and let people know that you are looking for new challenges. Increase your network on LinkedIN, and craft your image as an expert in your field. You can do this!

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8 Tips to Help You Climb the Corporate Ladder

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Katie Evans

If your career goal is to climb the corporate ladder, you can succeed easier than you think. A growing number of people have little interest in climbing the corporate ladder, and instead focus on work-life balance and lifestyle design. This leaves big opportunity for those who want to move up to management roles.

If you want to rule the corporate world, here’s a few tips to help you on your way up the ladder:

1. Show Up

‘Just showing up’ might sound simple, and that’s because it is. Woody Allen famously said, “80% of success is simply showing up.” What he means is that if you show up, you better your chances of being in the right place at the right time. You also increase your chances of having your work seen by the right people.

Showing up means don’t be the person that calls out to go to the movies. It also means being the person that goes to conferences, interviews, networking meetings, and any other extras. It means showing up early, and sometimes staying late. You can’t win the corporate game unless you are there. Show up!

2. Don’t Wait To Be Told

Follow-the-leader might get you out of the mailroom, but it won’t help you climb much further up the corporate ladder. Take the initiative by looking at what’s coming and preparing for it. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do—figure out your next step and start doing it immediately.

Is your boss going to need a sales update on Friday? Have it on her desk before she leaves on Thursday. Is your team running low on supplies? Fill out the order form and get it to purchasing, then CC your boss on the correspondence. Show that you’re not only a team player, but you’re a born leader who wants to succeed.

3. Don’t Complain and Don’t Gossip

Whatever you do, don’t put yourself in a situation where anyone can cast you in a negative light. That means not complaining at work. If you’re given a task you hate, remember the bigger picture: It’s a step toward your goal of climbing the corporate ladder. If you hate a coworker, treat the coworker with kindness and respect—be the bigger person. Your coworkers will respect you for it.

Never gossip at work. It’s not high school, and there’s no reward in it for anyone. Gossiping makes you look small minded and like you don’t have enough to do. Plus, in the right situation, it could get you fired.

4. Get A Coach Or A Mentor

Mentorship can be a very helpful tool for those who want to make their way up the career ladder. They can be your guide and help you to navigate the corporate landscape effectively. Make sure you do your research, and try to ensure that your coach or mentor has experience in your specific industry or niche so that they can give you appropriate advice.

Perfectly Employed offers career-coaching services too. Our coaching focuses on helping you construct a plan to reach your goals and figure out your next steps. We help people from all walks of life and in all industries.

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5. Earn Extra Credit

The best way to ensure your ladder-climbing success is to do more than your job description says. You can speak at conferences, write research reports, write for blogs in your industry—you name it. Work on crafting your personal brand and making a name for yourself in your industry.

When you take on extra tasks in your job, make sure your employer doesn’t take advantage of you. You can learn more about your employee rights by visiting HayberLawFirm.com. Take a look so you know where you stand.

6. Help Others

Some people think that they have to have a cut throat attitude to get to where they want to be, but what goes around comes around and that rarely brings with it the positive energy you need if you’re going to advance up the ladder. Instead, aim to help others. They will begin to see you as a leader and this can be very effective for you. Your colleagues won’t resent you when you get the promotion over them, either!

7. Be Willing To Do What Others Won’t

If you really want to get ahead at work, you need to make sure you’re willing to do the things that others aren’t. This will help you to stand out and you’ll be given the chance to further your career. Make sure you are willing to go the extra mile.

This may mean creating boring spreadsheets or working with a problematic client. Remember your end goal and power through it!

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8. Chat With Your Boss

Your boss is not a mind reader. You need to have discussions with your boss about your career goals. Your boss can help you reach your goals by giving you tasks that align with your aspirations, and recommending you when a superior position opens. Your boss can be a great ally in your climb up the corporate ladder, so whatever you do, don’t be afraid to let him know that you have your eye on the corner office!