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Step 1
Ask questions and evaluate your situation. Is your current company one you want to stay with for long-term success? Do they offer training for advancement? Are you willing to travel for advancement? Does your current employer hire within the company when advancement opportunities come up? Establish what your long-term goals are and where your current job fits in to those goals.
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Step 2
Check for job postings within the company. Most companies provide a list of current and future job openings through human resources (HR). The list usually contains job descriptions, requirements and benefits. If not, ask someone in the human resources department for more detailed job descriptions.
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Step 3
Be a team player. This not only means doing your job well, but networking within the company. Putting yourself in situations where team effort is required is a great way to get noticed by middle and upper management. This may involve taking on more work and spending more time, but the results will be worth it when negotiating a better job offer.
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Step 4
Educate yourself. Whether it's outside courses or in-house training opportunities, educating yourself is vital. When an employer looks at advancement requests, they are not deciding whether to hire you--you already have a job with the company. They're looking at what you have contributed to the company and what you will contribute in the future. Going out of your way to garner more training will show that you're serious about advancement.
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Step 5
Be social and get noticed. Even if you're not a social butterfly, it helps to get involved with extra-curricular activities sponsored by the company. This allows management to see how you react in social situations and get to know you. Your resume and experience may be stellar, but it's almost impossible to get a promotion if the person doing the hiring doesn't know you or worse, doesn't like you. It may not be fair or right, but it's usually how business is done.
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Step 6
Make your case. Write down what you have accomplished for the company, what you have learned, how you can help the company and finally what you want in regards to a promotion or job offer. Set an appointment with a member of management and communicate your goals. You may have to negotiate for a pay raise, better benefits and advancement. But, if you've done your homework and written it all down, you increase your chances of getting a better job offer.
