How to ask for a promotion at work (2023)

Someone recently asked me, "What are the best ways to get a quick promotion at my job?" And how do I ask for a promotion directly?

I've helped a few people get promoted at work (and done it myself), so I decided to put together a detailed guide on how to do it.how to ask for a promotion AND how to get promoted quickly throughout your career.

What you will learn in this article:

• 3 methods you can useAsk for a promotion now
• 9 steps to give youbest possible advancement opportunitiesthroughout your career
• to avoid mistakeswhen you request a promotion

Let us begin…

Part I: How to request a promotion

It's not easy asking for a promotion at work if you've never done it before. This section walks you throughhow to ask for a promotion with 3 proven methods.

When you're done, you'll feel confident and ready to contact your boss and ask for a promotion.

One of the most common reasons people leave their jobs is the lack of advancement opportunities. So it's a great idea to take the time to explore internal opportunities before spending months looking for a job.

And in many cases, your boss will be THRILLED when he hears that you want a promotion. His manager cannot read his mind and he may think that he is happy in his current position.

So the best way to get promoted is to simply ask and state your desire to be promoted.

Now let's see how to do it...

When is the right time to ask for a promotion?

The best time to ask for a promotion is when you are confident that you have learned your current role and are performing well in your primary responsibilities. So you should tell your boss that you would like to learn new things and take on new challenges. This signals to your manager that he is interested in a promotion soon.

Any good manager will be happy to hear this, so don't be afraid to bring it up, whether you're asking about a specific promotion or just talking about future opportunities in general.

Part of a manager's job is to help employees develop and grow.They are often proud of it. A manager cannot do his job if he does not speak openly about what he wants to achieve in the company.

How to ask for a promotion: the indirect method

This entire method usually works best as a long-term plan. If you're fed up and thinking about exiting your business immediately due to lack of growth, you should probably skip ahead to Method 2.

The first method to be promoted is to first ask for responsibilities and then grow in the position.Think of it as a "try before you buy" model, for both you and the company.

Essentially, you'll find a few areas you'd like to learn more about and slowly integrate some of those responsibilities into your current job.

They do this without officially changing the job title (yet). They simply ask for new responsibilities instead of asking for a promotion.

The goal is to get promoted and make these tasks a regular part of your job once you learn the basics.

This is best in a company that is smaller or structurally more flexible. In flexible organizations, top management will have more leeway to allow you to try new things.

And sometimes a job looks great on the outside, but once you step into the role, you realize it's not fun. A trial period can be great for both parties.

I once got promoted to a project manager job and ended up hating it. I wish I had tried it more "indirectly" before agreeing to the job title change, as I quickly reverted to the previous role in which I was much happier.

How to request a promotion: the direct method

This is the most direct way to request a promotion. This promotion route involves applying for a new job or new responsibilities in advance (before trying).

With this method of applying for a promotion, you must make an appointment to meet with your manager. Then, in the meeting, make it clear that you want a promotion and ask if there is an opportunity for that.

You can ask your manager if he knows of any senior-level positions in the group or what positions others have held in the company. That way, your manager can provide helpful feedback and let you know whether or not you're ready for a promotion.

Example of what to say when requesting a promotion using this method:

"Hi <name>. Thanks for meeting me. I wanted to sit down with you to discuss the idea of ​​a promotion. Having been with the group for 14 months, I feel like I excel at my main job and would love the opportunity to take on more and move on to a higher role in the organization. Can you think of something that would work for me if I want to further develop within the company? Or what did other people in the organization do after they 'completed' that role?”

How to request a promotion: the Ask-First method

If you're not sure the best way to ask your boss for a promotion, there's another option.

You can ask them what you prefer.

I explain...

Instead of guessing how your boss wants you to do things, you can go up to him and say:

"Hi <name>. Let's say you wanted to get promoted... what would that process look like and how would you like a staff member to handle it with you?"

Now they can tell you what to expect, how other people have been promoted in the past, etc.

You're less direct and direct than the "direct method" above, but you don't spend weeks or months taking on new responsibilities without the assurance that you'll get promoted.

So, if you are not sure how to start this process, or if you have read the first two methods above and feel that neither method is right for you, use this third method.

Mistakes to avoid when asking for a promotion

Any of the 3 methods above can work very well. And any kind of conversation you have with your manager about promotions is usually a good thing.

However, there are some BAD times to apply for a promotion and some pitfalls to avoid when applying. Now that you know what to say when asking for a promotion, let's look at what NOT to say and what NOT to do.

First, be sure to show appreciation for your current job when you ask for a promotion.

You never want to sound frustrated or upset.You want to sound excited about how things are going and ready to do more. That is the correct angle.

Next, don't ask for a promotion if you're in a new position or company. It's also not a good idea to ask if they're having trouble performing well or have received poor performance reviews.

Know your current job and first make sure you are performing well. Then ask for a promotion.

Also, keep your reasons for wanting a promotion work-related and focus on your skills and contributions to the company.

Don't ask for a promotion because someone else was promoted. Also, do not ask for a promotion because you have been at the company for X time. If you want to be promoted in most companies, you have to act.Spending time in the organization is not enough. I would recommend focusing on results, not time invested, if you want to move up.

Also, don't ask for a raise or promotion for personal reasons (long commutes, gas prices, etc.). This is not as effective as asking for a promotion based on merit and job-related reasons (such as the value you bring to the organization, the skills and experience you have, etc.)

Leaving the company is also an option

Sometimes it's worth waiting for a promotion, but remember that you can also start looking for a job and look elsewhere.

Not all companies offer advancement and growth. Not all companies care about this.So if you're in bad company, you should go.

If you feel stuck or have hit a ceiling or a dead end, that is also a good reason to leave.

Some employers deserve your loyalty; others notIt's wise to research internal advancement opportunities before beginning your time-consuming job search, but both can be great options.

And you can often get a bigger raise by changing companies rather than just changing jobs. This is not always the case, however.I have recommended him to change companies at least 2-3 times in his career.

as a recruiter, the lowest salaries I've seen (relative to their jobs) were for people who stayed with a company for more than 10-15 years.

I have seen terribly low wages for people who have done this. I'm talking about salaries that are $20,000 to $30,000 below what they should have been.

This can happen when you stay with a company for more than 20 years. So find a balance between asking for promotions and changing companies several times in your career.

Part II: How to get a FAST promotion at work

Now that we've covered 3 ways you can ask for a promotion at work, let's look at some strategies and steps you can use BEFORE asking for a promotion to increase your chances of saying yes. I listened.

These are 9 tips to get promoted quickly at work.

1. Find a great boss who supports you

Bad bosses will stop you! Personally, I think having a great boss is even more important than finding a great company.

It is best to find both. One of the best ways to get promoted is by finding a fast growing company.ya great boss

But here's the bottom line: If your boss doesn't support you, it becomes 10 times harder to get promoted, no matter how hard you work.

Avoid bosses who seem jealous, impatient, rude, frustrated, or unhappy at work. I've had some awful, horrible bosses and it wasn't fun.

And I've had great bosses who literally jump-started my career by advising me, supporting me, and really wanting me to do well. There is nothing better! Find a situation like this.

2. Volunteer for more responsibility

Don't wait to be asked to do more and don't just do what your job description says.

When you do your normal duties well, look for opportunities to take on more. Ask your boss what else you can help with.

Look for ways to improve processes in your organization, help the team more, make other people's work easier, etc. (But always do your “core” responsibilities first.)

A good boss will be happy for you to take the initiative and ask what else you can do and learn. And it's their job to find ways to keep you busy and growing!

That's why I mentioned the importance of having a great boss in point 1 above.

In short, having a great boss and taking the initiative to ask for more responsibility is one of the best ways to get promoted at work.

Now let's talk about other things...

3. Become more involved in company meetings and events

Participate in events. Make sure people get used to seeing you at corporate events whenever possible. Volunteer whenever your company does something like volunteering in the community, hosting a holiday party, or anything else.

Also, come to events relatively early so you have a chance to meet new people and leave late.

Don't skip them if you want to get promoted. Make sure they see you!

4. Make sure people in the organization know who you are

There are always some people like that in every company. You don't work with them directly, but you know who they are. You recognize them when they walk. Do you know his name.

Start working to become one of those people. It starts by showing company events (mentioned in #3 above), but it's also something you build in the office every day.

Introduce yourself to other teams and groups in your company. Introduce yourself to people at lunch. Try to have lunch or coffee with people outside of your usual circle. Talk to people in the hallways, in the elevator, EVERYWHERE. Whatever is needed.

What to say when you meet her? build fastelevator presentationtell them what you do at the company and who you are.

5. Try to be present when interviewing new people

If your company has multiple people involved in interviews (rather than a single manager interviewing people and deciding), ask your boss if you can attend.

You gain valuable experience, feel like an important part of the company, and show management that you care about your job and want to be a bigger part of the company.

The worst thing that happens when you ask is that they say they think you're not ready. It is not a big thing. Check back six months later! Even asking and hearing "no" STILL makes a positive impression on management because you took the initiative and made it clear to them that you were looking for more opportunities to get involved (more on that in a bit...)

6. Never complain

This is very important and one of the most powerful ways to get promoted at your job. I know it's hard sometimes, but you can't complain if you want to be seen in a positive light. It will ruin your relationship with people.

If you're having a rough day, don't feel like going to work, or something a colleague has said really bothers you, think twice before complaining out loud! He will damage his reputation and people will remember him.

So if you want to get promoted at work, wait until you're home and drop it off at a friend's house, not the office!

7. Be responsible and communicate clearly

If you're late for a project, tell your boss! One of the best ways to get promoted at work is to be transparent and have a "no surprises" policy for your boss and his team.

And be responsible. If you say you will do something, do it. If you can't do something, make it clear and immediately explain why.

It's amazing how many bad situations you can avoid simply by communicating clearly, pointing out a problem as soon as you see it instead of trying to cover it up, and so on. Be very responsible and open and EVERYONE will trust you more.

Speaking of trust...

8. Be on time every day

There are studies that show that if you say you would do a LOT to build trust, you just show up. Your boss will see you as much more trustworthy if you show up to work on time.

And leaders nurture people they can trust. Getting to work on time every day is probably the easiest way to get a quick promotion at work.

And it's something anyone can do. No talent or skill is needed.

Just leave early enough to get to work on time, no excuses. If you want to move up, this is a must. If you're not doing this, or apologizing to yourself right now about why you can't do this…then you don't want to be promoted high enough. Someone else is willing to do this and will most likely get promoted first.

9. QUESTIONS

If you don't ask for something, you won't get it. Your boss is not a mind reader. For this reason, the entire first section of this article was dedicated to asking for a promotion.

As you sit quietly wondering why you didn't get a promotion, your boss may be wondering if you really want more responsibilities, enjoy being here, etc.

So don't leave her guessing. Ask for the action! Tell them that you would like to be considered for the next available opportunity.

And before that, you should have spent time taking on more responsibilities "off the record" (without more salary or a new position). That's what step 2 above was all about!

A promotion is a great way to advance your career without having to change companies frequently. It also looks fantastic onyour resume. If he's read the steps above, he now knows how to ask for a promotion and advance his career!