Considering a Promotion? Well, Be Prepared.

by Kathy Seaton

This might be your time. In fact, positive things are probably on the horizon for you as you consider a promotion. Not only does a promotion come with a salary increase, it also comes with stature, power, decision making, and rank amongst the troops. 

However, a promotion is most likely a big step in your career plans—so you need to be aware and prepared. 

You need to ask yourself a few questions. 1) Is this promotion worth the additional stress and responsibility? 2) Will your peers and upper management be supportive? 3) Are you willing to compete with your peers that also might be gunning for the job? 4) Are you the right and/or ideal candidate? 

These questions are important, and reflection is required if you’re going to take the leap.

Here are a few things to consider.

First, and foremost, make your decisions based on your evaluation of your qualifications for the job. 

You might be up against the qualifications of another internal candidate or an external applicant. In these situations, you need to set yourself up to meet, as well as, exceed the expectations of the job versus the expertise of an alternative candidate. You need to treat this like you did when you won your initial job at the company and respond and prepare like you did for your very first interview. Develop a cover letter that outlines your capabilities for the promotion and update your resume so that it clearly communicates your accomplishments in your current job. Ensure that you completely understand the requirements for the job. It’s important that you measure each requirement and how your expertise meets the challenge. 

Make sure that the promotion is really a promotion.

Unless you’re trying to extricate yourself from a bad work situation with your current team or boss, then you need to make sure that the promotion is really what you want. Lateral promotions are useless. You need to make sure that you’re moving up the ladder. There’s no good rationale for asking for a new position if it doesn’t challenge you and move you to the next level. Remember, you’re trying to elevate your own personal brand and your clout within the organization. 

Market yourself—to the hilt.

Everyone, I mean everyone, that you currently work with needs to know your intentions and they need to believe in you. Trust me, your most valuable resource is your current network at work. Once the hiring manager reviews your application, the first thing that they are going to do is vet you using the input from your current supervisor and team. If you already know that there’s no way that you’re going to get support, then no need to apply. You need to make sure that you’ve already positioned yourself as an upwardly mobile employee, a trusted member of your team, and someone that is known to take on a challenge and succeed. Most importantly, you need to develop YOUR campaign. Make a concerted effort to market and shout out your current accomplishments. Brand yourself, create your own legacy. 

Michael Jordan, retired, pro basketball player said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”