Eventually the time comes. Your colleagues have long since climbed several rungs on the career ladder, only you yourself are still standing where you once started. Time to make a change, time to make a move!
You now have three choices: Either change jobs within your company in hopes of finally getting ahead there, or change companies right away. The third option is to approach your boss for a promotion. All three of these variations have one thing in common: They have to deal with their supervisor, negotiate, and present their accomplishments in the best possible light.
First prepare then address promotion
Those who chose the third option should keep a few things in mind and prepare well for the interview. If you approach your boss for a promotion, it should be as successful as possible. In addition to personal performance and the situation in the company, several other important factors play a significant role if the conversation is to be successful.
Check out positions in the company
It is best to think in advance about what positions there are in the company to which you could move in the context of a promotion. Many people finally want to get ahead and be promoted. But it becomes problematic if there are no vacancies in your own company. Think about where a new position could be integrated, what should be done there and recommend yourself right away as the most suitable candidate for the new position.
Your own strengths and goals achieved to date
Before you approach your boss for a promotion, you should become aware of your own strengths. You may have increased sales? Solved a specific problem? Successfully completed a major project? This is where you should definitely focus your boss’ attention when it comes to concrete promotion opportunities.
Approach promotion at the right time
They should have a feeling for the climate in their company. If the company has major problems at the moment, if employees are anxious, or if negative issues keep dominating the informal rounds, the time is probably not right for a promotion.
But: If the company is expanding, if sales have increased, or if the company is currently in a phase of restructuring, their commitment and drive will certainly be received positively.
The behavior of the superior
The behavior of the supervisor also plays an important role when it comes to a promotion. Not every time is a good time to approach your boss about a promotion. Sometimes it’s worth reaching into the psychological bag of tricks: Is the boss in a good mood or is he very stressed right now? A little tact and timing can go a long way to increasing your chances of success.
Clearly formulate your promotion request
There’s no point in beating around the bush. If you want to be promoted, you must also make your request clear and explicit. You should by no means hold a gun to your boss’s head in this regard. You should rather present the advantages for the company and for yourself that a promotion brings with it. At the same time, you should explain what new aspects you can bring to the new position.
Prepare for tough questions
If you approach your boss about a promotion, you must expect that your boss will want to know a lot from you before agreeing to a promotion. Therefore, be sure to prepare as best you can for follow-up questions from your boss. Good answers to the supervisor’s questions may even support your concern.
Do not take a no personally
If you ask, you may lose; if you don’t ask, you’ve already lost. When you ask your boss for a promotion, despite good preparation, valid arguments, personal successes and a favorable location of the company, the answer may be “no”.
In such a case you should not take the rejection personally. There can be many different reasons for rejection, and your boss doesn’t have to justify himself to you.
But: He now knows her intention and it is worthwhile after some time to approach him again for a promotion and thus to bring yourself back to mind.