You’re trying to get a promotion. What are some common mistakes you should avoid?

Getting a promotion in materials science can be challenging, especially if you work in a competitive or fast-paced environment. You need to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and value to your employer, but you also need to avoid some common pitfalls that could derail your career advancement. Here are some of the mistakes you should avoid if you want to get a promotion in materials science.

1 Not updating your portfolio

Your portfolio is a showcase of your projects, publications, and achievements in materials science. It can help you stand out from your peers and impress your managers and potential employers. However, if you don't update your portfolio regularly, you might miss out on opportunities to showcase your latest work, your skills development, and your impact. Make sure you keep your portfolio up to date with relevant and high-quality examples of your work, and highlight your contributions and results.

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Saman Sargazi

Assistant Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at Zaums | Among Top 2% Scientists in the World – Elsevier/Stanford Lists (2023 and 2024) | Former Research Fellow @Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
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Not clearly articulating your accomplishments and contributions Being overly aggressive or pushy Focusing solely on yourself Not seeking feedback: Don’t assume you are ready for a promotion without seeking feedback from your supervisor or other relevant stakeholders. Use this feedback to make any necessary improvements before pursuing the promotion.

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2 Not networking with others

Materials science is a multidisciplinary and collaborative field. You need to network with other professionals, both within and outside your organization, to learn from their insights, exchange ideas, and find new opportunities. Networking can also help you build your reputation, gain recognition, and access mentors and sponsors. However, if you don't network with others, you might limit your exposure, your learning, and your career prospects. Make sure you attend relevant events, join online communities, and reach out to people who can help you grow and advance.

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Vahid Serpooshan

Assistant Professor at The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University Scientific Director @ Innovations Hub, Emory School of Medicine
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While making a broad and diverse network of collaborators is paramount towards academic career growth and promotion, one should also plan for forming of a group of contacts and professional references with whom you have not directly worked. This latter group of contacts is critically important at the time of applying for promotion, when you’d need to have a list of support letter writers with no conflicts! The promotion workflow in most institutes is getting increasingly strict about such conflicts.

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3 Not asking for feedback

Feedback is essential for your professional development and improvement. It can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, learn from your mistakes, and set your goals and action plans. However, if you don't ask for feedback, you might miss out on valuable information that could help you improve your performance, your skills, and your readiness for promotion. Make sure you ask for feedback regularly from your managers, colleagues, clients, and mentors, and use it constructively to enhance your work and career.

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4 Not taking initiative

Taking initiative means going beyond your assigned tasks and responsibilities, and showing your creativity, problem-solving, and leadership skills. It can help you demonstrate your potential, your value, and your ambition to your employer, and increase your chances of getting a promotion. However, if you don't take initiative, you might appear passive, complacent, or uninterested in your work and career. Make sure you take initiative by proposing new ideas, solutions, or projects, taking on new challenges, or volunteering for extra duties or roles.

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5 Not communicating your achievements

Communicating your achievements means highlighting your accomplishments, results, and impact in materials science. It can help you showcase your skills, knowledge, and contribution to your employer, and increase your visibility and credibility. However, if you don't communicate your achievements, you might go unnoticed, undervalued, or overlooked for promotion. Make sure you communicate your achievements by updating your resume, portfolio, and online profile, sharing your success stories, and asking for endorsements or recommendations.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You’re trying to get a promotion. What are some common mistakes you should avoid?

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1 Not updating your portfolio

2 Not networking with others

3 Not asking for feedback

4 Not taking initiative

5 Not communicating your achievements

6 Here’s what else to consider

Materials Science

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