If so, congratulations! This is an excellent move for your career, as well as a great way to increase your earnings. But, how do you get to the next level? In this article, we’re offering all the answers and how to get promoted. Also, we’ll be touching on some of the common mistakes as to why people don’t get promotions.

Have you been working at a company for a while but still don’t feel any signs of getting a promotion? Perhaps you’re working extremely hard but feeling as though you’re not getting any of the benefits. This can feel disheartening and like your hard work is going unnoticed. However, a lack of promotion doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not respected. In fact, it could mean the exact opposite. Here are a few possibilities as to why you've been passed over.

1. Firstly, perhaps your positive attitude and excellent work ethic is signaling to your boss that you’re completely happy in your role. If you work tirelessly and are successful in your role, perhaps you’re a vital member of the team. Moving you up or to another team might not benefit the business in the long run.
2. A promotion also means that you have more to give. This doesn’t necessarily mean by your characteristics, but perhaps your network. Do you have good contacts which are viable to the business? Maybe your boss doesn’t feel that you have the conversational skills to take on a more demanding role. On the other hand, maybe you don’t work well within a team, despite being excellent at your job. Let’s say you’re an excellent accountant. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re well-suited to run a team by yourself.
3. You lack the experience, skills, or charism that the business is looking for.

There are plenty of other reasons why you might not be getting that promotion. Consider if you fall into this category, and change your approach if so.

There are many things which are in your control in this world, and many which aren’t. However, if you want something enough and are willing to work hard, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. If you’re wondering how to get promoted, firstly you have to want that promotion so badly. Stay dedicated and committed to hitting your targets and going above and beyond.

A job promotion isn’t easy to achieve – especially if there aren’t any vacancies at this particular time. However, don’t become unenthusiastic about not seeing instant rewards. Here are some strategies on how to get promoted.

Aside from your experience and skills, personal qualities go a long way in contributing to a job promotion. Firstly, ask yourself how much you enjoy your job. Are you satisfied that this is the career you want? Do you put your heart and soul into seeing the business thrive? If you answer yes to these questions, then you’re instantly on the right track for a promotion. Secondly, you want this enthusiasm and positivity to radiate with your boss and the rest of the team. Without being too in-your-face, do you make it clear that you love your job? Or do you stick to your own company and not go out of your way to show it?

Smiling whilst walking around the office is a great way to show you’re genuinely happy in your career. It doesn’t hurt to build a strong relationship with co-workers too, because a leader should have a healthy relationship with their subordinates. We’re not just talking about a fake smile to get credit for your happiness, but a genuine positive aura which lights up a room. Make it your responsibility to ask people about their weekend. Be kind to co-workers and clients, and do your best to make everyone feel welcomed and equal. Also, don’t be the grumpy one on a Monday morning who brings the rest of the team down. Instead, by the sunshine on a rainy day.

Volunteering to assist with unwanted tasks is another way to show you care and love your job. You’re that committed to your career that you’re willing to take on responsibilities which aren’t yours. This shows that you’re eager and always ready to take on more challenges. How could that ever be a bad thing?

If you’re really serious about how to get promoted, then you have to work hard, but not to seek rewards. It’s incredibly undesirable to have an employee who puts in extra work just for a “thank you”. Let’s not disregard that a compliment and reward is a bonus, but that shouldn’t be the sole motivation behind your role. Don’t walk into your boss’s office to tell them you’ve done your job well. That is what you’re hired for. Asking for compliments is certainly not a desirable quality and co-workers and bosses will spot that a mile off.

Try not to get worried if you work extremely hard on a project and don’t receive any reward for it. Let’s say you put in extra hours, took on new tasks and never complained about any of it. You might feel like it was all for nothing if your boss doesn’t pick up on it. However, maybe they have noticed your work but want to see how you continue growing without any rewards. Your name could be on their list of people to get promoted. But, if you are made aware of that, it could affect your work. Instead, bosses want organic workers and not suck-ups.

We’re not encouraging you to step on anyone’s toes and start taking on projects which aren’t related to you. Arrogance and greed won’t get you anywhere. However, volunteering for tasks which no-one has the time or enthusiasm to do, will. Maybe you’ve noticed a co-worker is overworked and you could easily help out? Take it upon yourself to assist, without expecting anything in return. Only good things will come if you do this.

No-one likes the person in the office who complains all the time. Don’t be the grumpy Monday-morning person, or the early-to-finish person on a Friday. You are human and things will get you down. There will be stressful days. Times when members of the team aren’t pulling their weight. Or moments when you feel like pulling your hair out. However, channel this frustration in healthier ways as opposed to complaining to co-workers, or worse, your boss. We all have to do things in our life we’re not happy about. Don’t brand yourself as the complainer as you’ll bring down the energy at work.

Keeping quiet when you want to scream and shout isn’t easy. But, instead of smacking your keyboard and huffing in the office, take a short coffee break and come back refreshed. Life is made up of moments – a combination of good and bad – and there’s always a way to come back from the bad ones. If you look like you’re impossible to please, people won’t want to associate themselves with you. If you’re researching how to get promoted, you’ll find that complainers and moaners don’t offer find themselves at the top of that list.

We don’t want you to feel as though you don’t have a right to share your thoughts. If there’s a problem, complaining about it isn’t the answer. Instead, conduct reasonable solutions which can help yourself and the situation. Perhaps there’s another way which avoids any annoyance on your part, whilst still getting the job done. Only confront others when you have this idea, not for a moment to complain. Finally, consider your mentality. Eat a balanced diet, practice yoga and have healthy hobbies. These are ways to help your mind become more positive and open.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that they’ll get promoted if they work hard and complete all of their work to a high standard. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. You have to show that you can do more beyond your current role. Show that there’s more to know that what you’re currently doing. Present that you can shine brighter. Take it upon yourself to develop more knowledge and new skills. Use your time outside of work to read intellectual books. Research and stay up-to-date with your line of work. Are there new trends you should be aware of? Has the industry significantly changed? Do you see your role going in a new angle which you don’t yet have the skills for?

By spending time to figure out where your position and the company is heading, you’ll be able to bullet point what else you need to know. You can never have enough knowledge in a role. Perhaps you could get talking with a co-worker who has niche skills which would be helpful. Take it upon yourself to take this step, without being asked by anyone.

Also, it’s important that you want to learn and have a desire to continually improve. This alone sets a lot about you as a person and employee. You don’t like standing still and love a challenge. Nothing is too much for you. Building a network with people in the business is another great way to develop more knowledge and new skills. This will also help you on how to get promoted because you’re expanding and increasing your relationships with influential figures.

If you’re serious about how to get promoted, you’ll need to act professional at all times. This begins with your appearance. Always dress like you’re serious about your role, and be ready to meet a client at any point. Act and look the part whenever you’re in the office – and this also means during lunch. We’re not saying to have a serious face at all times. However, acting irresponsible during lunch hours will show another side to you which won’t help with your promotion. Acting professional also means keeping a positive outlook on things at all times. Be the go-to person in the office to uplift the mood and help solve problems.

Work until the job is done. Even at that point, continue looking over your work until it is at the best standard it can be. Take a genuine pride for your work, and don’t quite until you’re completely satisfied and proud of the outcome. Say yes to new projects (without over-committing yourself). This shows that you’re hard-working, passionate and the least clock-watcher of the team. Also, during this stage, look at yourself from another person’s point of view. Would you promote yourself compared to the rest of the team? If the answer’s no, then you need to reevaluate your actions.

Finally, another way to look and become professional is to be the problem-solver. Everyone likes the person who can come up with a solution. Rather than visiting the boss’s office to fret and complain, keep your cool. You’re hired to help with the business, not to worry when things aren’t going to plan. Show that you’re capable of using your own initiative and don’t need anyone else to put in the work for you.

The underlying factor of establishing how to get promoted is helping the business to succeed. You might be the best person in the world at your job, but if you don’t have any other efforts to improve productivity, increase profits etc., then there’s no real reason to move you up in the company. Always have ideas to help the company – or at least be willing to look into solutions. Of course, it isn’t always easy to find a helpful outcome, but showing initiative to do it in the first place is an excellent start.

Confront your boss about issues which need addressing by using your time productively to look into important areas. Do you feel that time could be spent on other tasks? Would this help to increase the profit? This isn’t to see that you have the authority to dictate the company’s future or other employees’ roles. However, taking it upon yourself to look into areas which could be improved is a positive trait. You may also wish to hold a meeting with your boss to figure out what areas need improving and how you can help. Be authentic about how you approach this.

Once you have the important information and facts from your boss, then take it upon yourself to do something with this. It’s extremely important to know what will make your boss and the business successful. This might involve tasks you’re not particularly eager about doing. However, this is where you have the option to open your mind and take on new challenges.

If you’re serious about how to get promoted, then you’ll need to start taking on additional tasks and pressure. Show your boss that you can handle things outside of your comfort zone and that you’re always ready for the next move. Without arrogance, act like you already have the promotion. Show that you can do the job, rather than talking about how you can do it. At company meetings, chime in with facts and figures. Show that you’ve done your research and know what you’re talking about. Bear in mind that everything you say should have a point and not just be a way to show that you can research. What you then do with this information is what’s viable.

The most important factor in how to get promoted is making yourself seen and heard. Are you making a difference and impact on the business? Or, are you just showing up, getting the job done and then heading back home? Life is filled with choices, so don’t miss out on making your own opportunities.

It’s crucial that you contribute to other departments to show that you have initiative. As a result, this will also help you to develop stronger relationships with your co-workers. If you see someone who looks like they might need a helping hand, offer to help out.

Like we briefly mentioned in the earlier point, if you want to know how to get promoted, people need to know who you are. There are plenty of ways to achieve this. Firstly, be the positive person of the office who brings a smile to people’s faces. Make an impact in a personal and professional sense. Always be approachable. You don’t want to be awkward and unfriendly when people talk to you. Instead, you want others to feel as though they can come to you at any time. Also, avoid being late or the first person out of the door at the end of a work day. This just makes it look like you don’t want to be there or in anyone’s company.

Let yourself be you. Don’t put up a front or create a ‘work version of you’. Of course, there are some elements you should keep out of the office. However, don’t become fake just so people like you. It’ll quickly become too tiring to keep up this act, and people will easily spot it.

Be respectful to others too. People like honesty and that their opinion and voice matters. Treat others like you like to be treated and never put any harsh judgement on anyone. Everyone deserves a chance and we should all be kinder to one another. Furthermore, show an effort in other people’s work and root for the team. Be that person who uplifts others when they’re feeling low. A strong person is the type to get promoted as upper-level management has to have resilience to them.  

Here’s the truth: bosses don’t like being lied to. If you know you’re going to be late for a project, or need some more assistance, communicate clearly to your boss. Perhaps you’re in need of more resources to complete your work to an exceptional standard. Open up and arrange a meeting with your boss. If you sit there in silence, you’ll only cause yourself stress and worry whilst you try to figure out the answer. Don’t struggle, but ask for help if you need to. This doesn’t show weakness, but initiative. We all need a helping hand at some point, and that’s okay.

Also, be accountable for your actions. This means following through with something you said you’re going to do. Let’s say you openly agreed to a deadline for a project, but then realize you’re running out of time. Rather than waiting until the last minute, communicate clearly to your boss that it might be late. They’ll appreciate the advanced communication as it enables them to create plan B. This obviously isn’t ideal, but people will appreciate and trust you more for being open and honest.

Finally, if you’ve made a mistake – which we all do – own up to it. Don’t put the blame on someone else if you are held responsible. Nobody likes a liar and it’s hard for people to trust someone who lies.

At the same time as being accountable for your actions, relax. Life goes on. People forget. Don’t be the person who creates anxiety and stress in the office. Instead, by the person who calm down negative vibes.

Finally, this is our most important piece of advice on hope to get promoted. You might feel like you’re in a trap and have to agree with everything everyone else and your boss says. However, the process of getting promoted doesn’t mean changing who you are and your view points. Everything that you feel and think is valid, if you can back it up. Be yourself and remain true to who you are. On the other hand, it’s important how you conduct yourself when explaining your points and reasons. Never shout or cause an argument. This is unprofessional and unnecessary.

Instead, calmly communicate your point and have valid reasons to explain your thoughts. You should then show equal respect by listening to other people’s voices. Don’t expect people to listen and understand you if you aren’t willing to give them the same amount of respect. It’s crucial that you don’t become too big for your boots straight away. Make sure you are ticking off all of the boxes for your current role. Don’t leave projects delayed because you’re focusing on bigger roles. This just looks like you can’t handle what’s already being thrown your way.

Finally, be the best version of yourself throughout this process. Nobody is asking you to change who you are to get promoted. Highlight what’s worthy of your attention and go from there.

Aside from the tips above, we believe that reading intelligent and well-researched books is a great way to learn. Therefore, we’ve scoured the Internet for the best books on how to get promoted. Here’s what we found.

Reading about how to get promoted for an infamous leader is a great way to learn. In this book, you’ll receive an honest reflection on how to get promoted. Through personal experience, the author says tips and methods she practiced which have helped on an array of other people. Sally list 12 habits which hold women back in the workplace. Before you can focus on how to get promoted, the author wants you to recognize what you’re doing wrong, and specifically, why you’re not moving forward in your business.

This book will help you to delegate more so you can focus on the important tasks and complete projects to the highest standard you’ve ever achieved. It also offers an array of tips on how to network and the importance of doing so in your career. Once you read this book, you’ll realize that there are so many things you’ve been doing wrong which you thought were aiding your success.

If you’re still looking for tips on how to get promoted, then this is a great go-to book for additional advice. This book has an interesting outlook on how confidence, attitude and even body language can help you receive a promotion. Also, if you have ambitions of getting a promotion but don’t feel you’re quite ready yet, then this is a perfect book for you. It helps you to find a way and head into the right direction for a healthy and successful career.

Or perhaps you feel stuck in your career and don’t know which direction to head in. If this sounds like you, then this book will help to feed you guidance. After just reading a handful of pages, you’ll understand if you’ve been acting responsible and appropriately to land yourself a promotion in your current role. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find someone who can give you career advice when you’re feeling lost. However, whenever you feel like this, pick up this career handbook and read as and when suits you.

Are you desperate to get that promotion? Perhaps you’re getting frustrated that you’re not seeing the rewards you’d hoped. However, you might feel lost with nowhere to turn to. If so, you’re not alone and this book is designed for you. With practical strategies and go-to tips, this book aims to get you your dream promotion just within 30 days. The readership for this book is specifically people who feel that they’re doing everything they can to obtain a promotion, but aren’t getting anywhere. However, don’t feel as though this is the end. A change of actions and attitude might be all you need to turn your life around.

If you seriously want to know how to get promoted, we hope you absorbed the above points and take action. Reading and listening is one thing, but doing is another. There’s only you stopping you reach your goals. Make sure you do the basics right and challenge yourself to achieve more.

Do you have any alternative tips on how to get promoted? If so, share your thoughts and advice in the comments to keep this conversation going.

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