If you’ve been at the same job for quite a while, it’s tempting to believe that a promotion would come your way annually, like a time-served bonus. You must do more than record hours to advance to the next level. More responsibility entails deliberately demonstrating and, in some instances, there’ll be a prompt to ask for a promotion.
Many modern employees place a high value on moving up the ladder as a career goal. Stronger influence, better duties, a greater sense of impact, and a higher pay grade are all benefits of a higher rank within a company.
Promotion, to the unaspiring, is something that happens over time. It only happens once a superior understand how long you’ve been around and how much you’ve learned. For courageous, persistent, and hardworking candidates with continual attempts at self-improvement, promotions are a prize to work on. Regardless of your strategy or level of dedication to obtaining your next promotion, numerous behaviours might jeopardize your chances of success, and you may be unaware of them.
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What is a Job Promotion?
A job promotion occurs when an employee moves to a senior position or function within a company or organization as a result of outstanding performance. Sometimes, a job promotion has additional responsibilities plus a better income. Promotions elevate an employee’s status in the professional hierarchy, allowing them to ascend in the organization.
Some new jobs may need the promoted employee to work greater hours or learn a new skill set. In certain circumstances, growth opportunities are only accessible after gaining a reputation within the organization. Other organizations often promote based on qualifications, extraordinary competence, and taking on more responsibilities.
Why Should You Ask for a Promotion?
There really is no perfect moment to ask for a promotion. However, you should be strategic when you ask for a promotion. Naturally, the week after a series of layoffs at the firm or the day your team loses a big customer is not a pleasant time to ask for a promotion. Instead, inquire after something excellent happens.
Some scenarios in which requesting a promotion is fair to include when:
- career advancement is a pressing need,
- you take on more responsibilities than required for your position,
- you’ve achieved progress in the areas of growth that you’ve highlighted, or
- the business has felt the influence of your efforts.
Don’t, on the other hand, get too comfortable. If your job promotion will assist the organization in achieving its goals, you should pursue it.
7 Easy Steps On How To Ask for a Promotion
If you’ve been working at an organization where you’ve made a significant impact, it may be time to request a promotion. It is especially important if you’ve worked really hard and deserve to progress in your current position. I advise you to explore the steps below to ask for a promotion.
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Define your worth
Many of us are naturally humble and modest. However, there is a massive distinction between being modest and undervaluing yourself. Here’s an activity to see if you’re actually modest or undervaluing yourself.
First, list all the ways you’ve been more valuable to the firm since starting your job. Also, be fair with your list, but test yourself by answering questions like:
- Have you achieved any specific results? Which ones are they? Calculate their tangible value.
- Is your communication becoming better? In what way?
- Are you more efficient than you were before? How did you find out?
- Do you have a better understanding of the industry? What effect does this have on the company’s bottom line?
- Have you learned any new skills? Which kind?
Keep in mind that what you consider ordinary may be extraordinary to someone else. There is no minor accomplishment, so ensure you list them all.
This is the first step in figuring out how to ask for a promotion.
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Be specific
Do you have a specific position toward which you’d like to request a promotion, or are you only desiring a job promotion? Precision will help your planning process unfold much more effectively. It could be a position that someone is presently leaving, a job you’d like to have in the near future, or a job that doesn’t exist at the organization yet but you’ve noticed a need for. Make sure you know what you’re aiming for before planting your promotion seedlings.
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Establish healthy relationships
Talk to higher-ups whenever possible and with anybody, you can gain access to. This will assist your organization’s supervisors, employers, and leaders in recognizing your face. It will also help you feel more comfortable speaking with those in authority when the need arises.
When it’s time to ask for a promotion, you’ll be thankful for these conversations because they’ll make your supervisors appear less threatening. It may be challenging to connect regularly with the person in charge of larger corporations. However, the more people ahead of you who are familiar with you and your work, the more likely you will get a promotion at work.
Read also: Qualities that define a healthy relationship
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Schedule an appointment
When you’ve identified the promotion you desire, schedule an appointment with your employer. Observe the right moment or time that would work, and prepare a reason why you ask for a promotion. It’s an opportunity to shoot your shot.
A simple in-person meeting with your employer is all you need to get the ball rolling. If your workplace is more formal, you may need to set up an appointment, but if your employer has an open-door policy, choose a suitable period to start your chat and walk in. All of your planning will come in handy here. It’ll make the situation less stressful for everyone concerned.
Are you bothered about what you’ll say when you arrive? I’ve also got you covered.
Here’s an example of what to say when you ask for a promotion:
Good day. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I wanted to meet with you to discuss the possibility of a promotion. I’ve been with the group for 17 months, and I’m succeeding at my core work. I’d appreciate the opportunity to take on more and advance to a higher-level position within the business. Is there anything that comes to mind that you think would be a good fit for me as I want to advance within the company? Or what have other people in the company gone on to accomplish after ‘graduating’ from this role?
Whatever the response to this, your communication skills will get you through it.
Read also: How to professionally resign from your current position
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Prepare to negotiate
Knowing your worth is essential when asking for a promotion. In fact, failing to negotiate your salary is one of the most severe professional errors you can make. Don’t bring figures into the conversation until you have the promotion, but you should be ready when the topic arises.
Do some study to find out the monetary value of your desired position. Don’t undervalue yourself, and don’t be scared to ask for much. It doesn’t hurt to aim high because your boss will nearly always offer you less than you ask.
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Don’t make threats
Threatening to quit your work will almost certainly result in many eye rolls. To demonstrate that you are ready for the position in which you ask for a promotion, you must prove that you are a mature person and committed to developing the company.
Even if you’re being chosen for a promotion in the future, stating that you’re not sure you’ll be able to continue in your current job for much longer may jeopardize your chances. Accept it with grace and go on with your life.
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Conduct a follow-up
Assuming you ask for a promotion and get the promotion. You should always send a follow-up email thanking your employer for meeting with you, analyzing your performance, and, perhaps, thanking them for the promotion.
If you didn’t secure the promotion, ask your employer when you may discuss it again. If they reject your request due to your credentials, get advice on what you can do to gain knowledge and improve your abilities. Please do yourself a favour and send that email so you don’t come off as ungrateful.
Read also: How to shift into a new career as a Nigerian
Conclusion
If you don’t know how to ask for a promotion, you might have a terrifying experience when requesting one. Implementing these methods will make requesting a promotion more uncomplicated than ever before. When you ask in the right way, you’ll have the assurance that you were totally prepared and did all the necessary things to achieve the promotion you deserve.
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About Author
- Judah Itah is an Educationist, a Certified Digital marketer, and a Copy/Content Writer. Although he loves writing and teaching Mathematics, his hobbies are reading, traveling, and music.
