How to Sell Yourself in Requesting a Promotion

Promotions are given to employees who can prove their worth.

A job promotion is more than a path to a bigger paycheck. It is a confirmation of your ability to perform, and to contribute to the success of an organization. Moving up in the ranks is not guaranteed and will not always occur as a result of seniority. You will need to prove to your employer that it is in the company's best interest to give you a promotion. The best way to do this is to show that you are important to its success as a business.

Instructions

Increase Your Value to the Company

1. Acquire training that can keep you up-to-date on emerging technologies that are beneficial to your employer. For example, if you are a medical assistant with on-the-job training, getting a certification can lead to pay raises and a job promotion.

2. Join a high-value, high-priority project or venture that your company is currently engaged in. Request an assignment within related departments, or otherwise find ways to contribute in a positive way. For instance, if your employer is looking to develop a new product line, helping out with marketing projects is a potential path to a promotion. Employees who go beyond their job description and help with other departments also stand a higher chance of being promoted.

3. Research, develop and implement innovative solutions to increase productivity. For example, switching to a paperless office can shorten the time needed to search for or retrieve documents, resulting in a fundamental increase in your workplace's efficiency. Finding new ways to acquire sources of customers is also a prominent way to increase your value to the point of earning you a promotion.

4. Develop strong teamwork skills. The ability to work well with others is essential to getting a promotion, especially into management.

Maintain a High Profile

1. Document everything that you have done to increase your value to your employer. This includes getting letters of recommendation from coworkers or bosses, and being recognized in writing for your contributions. Always frame your achievements in the context of how this benefits the company.

2. Speak of your achievements subtly when you are in the process of networking. Occasionally speak about it with your boss when you have meetings. When you receive praise for your work, acknowledge it, and don't downplay it.

3. Attend company parties and participate in the hobbies of managers and other employees. While CNN Money recognizes that favoritism often takes priority over contributions when it comes to who gets a promotion, it is not impossible to surmount this barrier. Networking can help you discover what talent the company needs most, which can indicate the best path to a promotion. In addition, by networking while getting yourself and your achievements noticed, you raise the chances that your name will be mentioned whenever a promotion is being considered.

4. Acknowledge the achievement of coworkers. Forbes suggests promoting others as a way to encourage reciprocation in your favor.

References

• QuintessentialCareers.com: Moving Up the Ladder: 10 Strategies for Getting Yourself Promoted
• BNET: 10 Ways to Land That Big Job Promotion
• Forbes.com: The Right Way to Sell Yourself at Work
• MSNBC: How to Get a Raise or Promotion in 2010

Resources

• CNN Money: Merit alone may not get you that promotion