Getting that Promotion

The company I was working for was being re-organised. All senior managers had to reapply in writing for new revamped roles. I submitted a CV tailored for the two jobs I was interested in and sat back thinking that was all I had to do. Luckily a management consultant (there are some good ones out there!) dropped in and put me straight.

So during a routine meeting with the boss I put forward the reasons why I should be considered for the job I really wanted. I also spoke to some of my previous bosses who were on the selection board- again during routine meetings. I got my preferred job. Much later, I discovered I’d originally been pencilled in for a job I would have hated. The decision by the selection board to put me into my preferred job was based on the reasons I’d put forward to my boss. So if I had just submitted my CV, I would not have got my preferred job.

So if you’re sure promotion is what you want here’s a few tips

First understand yourself
• Be clear about the reasons why you want the promotion and whether these reasons are consistent with your personal values and long term plans. If you hate your current job and every thing about organisation why not move on?
• Be sure you’re happy about the consequences of getting the job e.g. it might mean more money but it could involve substantial overnight travel which interferes with your work life balance or it might mean appraising your best friend
• Be very clear what type of role you want. In my case I wanted a “hands on” role in an operations area rather than a facilitator type role in a support area.
• Assess whether you have the right skills and experience for the job or need to gain further experience or qualifications
• Analyse what you have achieved in your current job and what you would do differently in hindsight.
• Critically look at your current level of performance. Is it good enough to justify promotion? If your area of responsibility has performance measurements, are you are in the top performers?
• What image are you projecting? Organisations tend to prefer “can do” positive people who come up with solutions to problems.
• How you dress portrays an image so torn dirty clothes are out. Make sure your clothes image is consistent with your organisation’s ethos. (Another mine field, I’ll get back to)

Secondly understand your organisation
• Understand the culture of your organisation. My approach would not have worked in a very formalised selection process. Indeed would be counter productive in a public sector type organisation. “canvassing will disqualify” In an American type organisation however a more direct approach would probably be needed
• Try to understand how the selection process for promotion works. This can be formal(interviews, appraisals etc) and/or informal process. (key decision makers knowing you and what you’re capable of )
• Look at the people who have gotten promotion recently and see if you understand the basis on which they got promoted. If you can talk to them in confidence and trust, do so to get additional insights.
• Consider whether you need to get to know more people in the organisation. i.e. by going on social committees or volunteering for a specific project
• Identify the reasons why you should be promoted based on the benefits to the organisation (not the benefits to you ). decide how you'll get this information across
• Don’t compare your self to other employees- it’s unfair, looks narrow minded and usually works against you
• If you have a performance appraisal process use it to get feedback about your performance and confirm you’re interested in promotion.

If you don’t get the promotion, wait until you’re over the disappointment and then calmly and unemotionally look for feedback on what you need to do to be successful the next time. I’ll come back to dealing with feedback and what to do if you continue to be unsuccessful.



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