Becoming the “Most Promotable”

If you are looking to work your way up the corporate ladder, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make yourself the “most promotable.”

If you want to get promoted, the first thing to attend to is your own attitude.  People who get promoted have a positive, can-do attitude, a confidence in their skills and efforts.  They believe in themselves.  They banish self-doubt.

Another element to look at is your reputation in the company.  What are you known for?  How are you perceived by your coworkers?  You need to step outside of yourself and think how you may look to your company’s leaders.  You need to take a hard look at your work routine and effort.  You need to evaluate yourself critically.

Another step in the process is establishing a rapport with those who will do the promoting.  It’s another version of networking within the company.  You need to get access to the people and resources needed for you to become competitive for that next job.

You also need to set clear goals about the job you want and how you will go about getting it.  Clear goals mean you set target dates for the things you want to achieve and specific plans for how to achieve them.  These are not outcomes that remain in the nebulous realm of sometime in the future.  These are outcomes you can visualize and plan to make real according to a specific time frame.

You also have to show what you can do and how you add value to the company.  You have to look at the big picture and come up with solutions that will help the company grab or maintain a competitive advantage, to come up with ways that the company can achieve its goals.  A big element in getting promotions is having high expectations for yourself – going the extra mile and doing more than is required.  Showing that you are willing to shoulder more responsibility also adds to your reputation.

Take a look at your personal life as well.  What kinds of demands will the new job you are after make on your life?  How will it affect your time with family and friends?  How will it affect relationships with bosses and coworkers?  All of these things should be considered and plans made before launching that bid for the promotion.

And you need to take action.  Thought and planning are good, but they remain worthless if not translated into actual strategic steps you take.  It may mean stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things you haven’t done before.  But without risk, there is no gain.

If you live in the Winnipeg, Manitoba area and are looking for a way to promote yourself to the next great job, contact Pinnacle Recruiting and Human Capital Solutions. Whether you’re looking for temporary or full-time work, we can place you on some terrific assignments with some of Winnipeg’s best employers. We look forward to hearing from you.