Moving On Up: How to Get Your Next Promotion

If you have your heart set on advancing your career, you’ll have the next level in mind. Sometimes it feels unclear what it takes to get there which can be frustrating. Worry not! We’re here to demystify the process–we have some tips to help you get your next promotion.

Top Tips On Getting A Promotion

Set SMART goals: make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. It’s also worth noting, getting a promotion doesn’t happen overnight–you have to build your case and showcase why you’re the best candidate to take forward. This takes time.

Build your experience/portfolio: get a solid understanding of what skills, qualification and experience is required for the next level and identify the gaps with where you are. You can do this both through personal analysis and via feedback from your colleagues, stakeholders and line manager. Then work to close those gaps. This could be through for example taking a course, leading on a project, or managing a team.

Raise your profile: look out for opportunities to increase your visibility and deliver high impact. Whether it’s more networking, knowledge sharing, or landing yourself key projects/activities, it’s important that you are known as someone able to deliver at the level you’re aiming for.

Track your achievements & learnings: be sure to note down your key learnings as you go along. This is important both for your own continuous professional development and also to demonstrate your growth. This is especially handy as a reference should you need to interview as well.

Secure sponsorship: be sure to get some leaders in your corner. Build relationships as well as demonstrate your competencies and capabilities. This will land you a good reputation which allows your sponsors to easily advocate for you when promotions are being considered. 

Find mentors: identify at least one person who has been able to achieve what you want, that you trust and respect, to be your mentor. They can share their experience with you as well as what to expect, what to prepare for and pitfalls to avoid. They will also be a good sounding board for your ideas, and any dilemmas that may arise.

Be patient: you should play the long game. Depending on the role you’re going for and the seniority, this is likely to be something you prepare for at least a year in advance. If your promotion window’s in July each year then you should start preparing the preceding July at the very least. For more senior roles, this will likely be a longer journey and you should gauge through feedback the timeframe that’s most realistic.

There will likely be challenges and obstacles along the way; don’t be discouraged by these. Take them on the chin and keep pushing forward. Above all, prioritise your learning and growth rather than the promotion itself. This will ensure you’re focusing on what counts and have a more fulfilling experience along the way.

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