How can you tell if you're ready for a promotion?

Each situation has different requirements. You should understand the stated and unstated criteria involved. Speak with others who have been on a similar track as you before and understand how the process works. During one attempted promotion to Director for myself, I found out that the people who decided on the 1-2 director promotions were unfamiliar with my work. They didn't need to be for the day-to-day, but it impeded my promotion.

Understanding the expectations and requirements of the desired role is the initial step in preparing for a promotion. Research the job description, seek insights from current role occupants, and solicit feedback from your manager. Clearly grasp the required skills, competencies, and responsibilities for the higher position. Conduct a self-assessment, comparing these expectations with your current performance to identify strengths and areas for improvement. This strategic approach lays the groundwork for targeted skill development and showcases your readiness for advancement.

Know the role your want to move to. The requirements for the role - skills, experience and expectations on the role for success. Do skills analysis to understand where you are and what you need to do to come up to speed. Take certifications, take on plus ones or take on additional responsibilities on your current role to close the skills gap you may have Share your dream with your Manager. If possible, position to find Allies - A Sponsor or your Manager can be the Ally your need Don't hide. Show your work, your achievements and let your personal brand show that you are the one for the job Apply for the role you want when the role opens or go find it yourself. Don't forget to tailor your CV to meet the requirements of the role.

Taking a 360 deg feedback always helps. It gives a perspective of how people at different levels perceive you for your next level. Good to understand through this what are the development areas. Having said that, one should have a plan on how to improve on the development areas. Also, to assess on the requirements of the elevated role - discuss with your manager on the skills that you possess and skills to be acquired

Figuring out if you're ready for a promotion is a lot like ticking off items from a checklist! Here are some factors to consider: Skills and Experience: Do you possess the skills and experience required for the new position? Performance: Have you been performing consistently well in your present role? Leadership Abilities: Are you capable of leading and managing tasks and projects efficiently? Teamwork: Are you a team player who collaborates well with others and contributes positively to the team? Initiative: Have you taken on additional responsibilities or demonstrated initiative in your current job?

If you're inquisitive about whether you're ready for a promotion, a good way to find out is to showcase your accomplishments. Here are some tips: - Results: Highlight specific tasks or projects where you've achieved outstanding results. - Contributions: Show how you've added value to your team or department. - Initiative: Share examples where you've taken the lead or shown initiative in solving problems. - Feedback: Mention any positive feedback or recognition you've received from colleagues or supervisors. - Growth: Demonstrate how you've grown and developed in your current role, whether it's through taking on new skills or responsibilities.

It is important to keep track of your contributions throughout your time in the role, keep a spreadsheet maintained with 4 tabs for each quarter. In every tab keep track highlighting per contribution [what did you do, what was the impact on [business/team/company...etc], record feedback from stakeholders [can be used as a form of endorsement], what challenge did you solve. If you can include numerical results this would be key to support and demonstrate why you are ready

During one attempted promotion to Director for myself, I discovered that those who decided on the 1-2 director promotions were unfamiliar with my work. They didn't need to be for the day-to-day, but it impeded my promotion. So what did I do? I put together a list of my key results and how they impacted not just the company overall, but their specific areas. I made a point to see them all quarterly, even if it was just to say hello and to make sure they knew what was available from my team.

Many mid-career professionals get wrapped up in their daily work activities that they forget to capture their achievements. Review your current job description to review the core competencies and responsibilities you are expected to perform. Then, capture achievements that directly align with those indicators. Next, look at the job description for the position above you. Review that description to see what duties and responsibilities you consistently or have performed. Take that data, along with your achievements, and use them to build a case study about why you are not only ready but have demonstrated the necessary skills for the position above you. That will give your supervisor more data about why you are ready for that promotion.

Ne surtout pas croire que bien faire son travail suffit, il faut apprendre à faire savoir aussi. Trop nombreux sont ceux qui voient une promo leur passer sous le nez parce que quelqu’un a su mieux se mettre en avant et parfois pas forcément avec une meilleure qualité de travail.

You have to have a network to get promotions in many jobs, especially at the leadership level. If you don't you are at a significant disadvantage compared to your peers. Many people are afraid to ask for a meeting or gain mentorship. The worst thing that is going to happen is you won't get a response. You should be more afraid of the impact of not doing it.

Expanding your network is pivotal for promotion preparation. Connect with influential figures like senior managers, mentors, sponsors, and cross-departmental peers. Showcase leadership, collaboration, and communication skills in these interactions, emphasizing your ability to contribute and work effectively with others. Building relationships with key stakeholders not only enhances visibility but also demonstrates your value to the organization, reinforcing your candidacy for career advancement.

You can tell that you are ready for a promotion when realize that you mastered your current responsibilities and have more than likely taken on additional responsibilities at work. If you are the go to person when your manager is out on vacation, volunteering for special projects, or serving as a subject matter expert then you are ready for that promotion!

Expanding your network is integral to gauging promotion readiness. As a recruiter, I've observed that well-connected individuals often have insights into organizational expectations. In resume writing, showcasing collaborative achievements underscores your readiness. As a coach, I encourage clients to seek mentorship within and outside the company. Personally, widening my network provided valuable perspectives that signaled I was prepared for the next step in my career. Networking opens doors and helps you gauge your readiness for a promotion.

Seeking feedback is critical, but be careful who you request it from. Don't surround yourself with the feedback of only your supporters. When someone says we don't know what your team does and can't provide feedback, don't take that as neutral. That is a negative situation as it pertains to a potential promotion, and you should work to address it.

It is important to seek actionable feedback. You may not choose to act on every feedback received, but you must address constructive feedback that comes from multiple sources because that indicates how others are experiencing you. It helps to have allies to help you make the change and close the loop with the stakeholders, sharing your action plan and seeking their mentorship.

Trust when you feel you’re ready, however, it’s important to do some introspection and analysis before making this claim. 1. Ensure you are already filling in for the next level responsibilities. 2. Seek for 360 degree survey from critical stakeholders. 3. Check your development plan list. 4. Have an action plan/development plan for the role up ready. Trust on organic growth, that takes you long way!

Ask yourself if you are already doing at least 20-30% of your manager’s job. Also, be self aware and get feedback from influential people in your organization on whether you have the leadership qualities and maturity to move to the next level.

Find key sponsors or stakeholders who will advocate for your promotion. Have regular checkins with them to collect feedback. Their feedback and support is crucial for your success.

You can't expect others to read minds in all aspects of life. When it comes to workplace promotions, you need to show an interest for a couple of reasons. Your boss may need to learn your aspirations. Additionally, you likely have other team members or others outside the organization competing for the role. As a leader, I always tried to push forre others applying even if they were casually interested. Even so, I put a high weight on those who expressed the most interest in the role. Don't play it nonchalantly and say things like you 'might' be interested or you are just 'putting a toe in the water' Go for it fully!

Step five involves expressing your interest and making a compelling case for a promotion. Don't assume your manager knows your aspirations; initiate a conversation highlighting your achievements and value proposition. Clearly communicate career goals and be prepared to negotiate salary, benefits, and responsibilities. Approach the discussion with confidence, assertiveness, and respect, ensuring your manager understands your readiness and commitment to the next career step.

AS many have pointed out, your manager is not a mind reader, so express your interest in moving up. Do this in an humble, respectful but enthusiastic way with clear communication that you feel you are ready to move along in your career. You can also express interest by volunteering for tasks outside your scope - choose tasks that show your capability. Make sure you prepare well for your one on ones by keeping your own records of your accomplishments - chart your own progress so you have something tangible to show for your hard work. Managers sometimes need reminders of the important achievements that their team/staff have accomplished. Make sure to take their feedback onboard during one on ones.

Tome a iniciativa e não espere acontecer. Se você deseja crescer e conquistar uma promoção, manifeste esse interesse à sua liderança. Isso não quer dizer que a vaga está ali à disposição ou ainda, que você já está pronto para ela. (Aliás, raramente alguém está totalmente pronto para um novo desafio. Você realmente saberá o tamanho e a natureza dele, quando chegar lá!). Mas expressar seu desejo abre um canal de comunicação com seu gestor que possibilita ampliar seu entendimento sobre a função, receber feedbacks mais assertivos e com ele, estabelecer ações para seu desenvolvimento. É importante que ele perceba seu empenho e resultados. Seja proativo e assertivo na evolução das suas entregas e comportamentos, diante do que a posição exige.

You know the tiktok/Reels trending track right now- "Nobody's gonna know...", Well this is TOTALLY true if you never tell anyone you want a promotion. I see too many people (especially guys - sorry gotta call you out on this) not go after promotions. They tend to be worried this will call attention to weaknesses they have, or put more work on them to see if they are up to the task, or even get them laid off if they bring awareness to the fact they could do more... does that make them less- valuable to the company? Know of an internal job opening. Talk to your manager. Be ready with a list of metrics you have done in your current role which shows you are a great candidate and that your salary bump is worth it.

At one stage in my career, I wanted to grow fast in my career and get promotions sooner and sooner. I remember my then manager telling me that there's a time for everything including career progression. We cannot force it or if we force, we pay a price for not being prepared or not having a strong foundation. We need to focus on honing our skills and experiences and making a real impact instead of just looking at "promotion" as an achievement. I know it is very important for us to progress but making promotion an "ego issue" and a "must have" by a certain time, takes away the joy of excelling at our job. Patience is really a virtue in this case.

Patience and flexibility are key in the final step of promotion preparation. Acknowledge that it's not guaranteed and may require time and effort. Realism about available opportunities is crucial, mitigating discouragement from rejection or delay. Stay open to alternatives like lateral moves, cross-functional projects, or external offers. Keep options open and maintain a positive attitude throughout, recognizing that career progression is a dynamic journey.

We often expect career progression to be a linear journey i.e always upwards. But sometimes we may actually have to take a step back or take a detour before getting to the next level. My personal example is that I took a sales role at Meta (then called Facebook), even though I’m a marketer. This “detour” gave me a more well-rounded resume as it provided me with invaluable experience both in sales and digital marketing! The lesson is that sometimes opportunity trumps sticking to The Plan. Stay open and flexible and life may just reward you with a good surprise!

Thinking about a promotion? Apply Zig Ziglar's "Be, Do, Have" principle. First, Be: Check if your attitude and behaviour match what's expected in the higher role. Are you already thinking and acting like a leader? Next, Do: Have you gone beyond your job description, tackling extra tasks and showing initiative? Finally, Have: Ensure you've got the right skills and knowledge for the promotion. If you tick these boxes, you're likely ready for that next big step in your career. BE. DO. HAVE. Like that.

Advocate for yourself at work once you have ticked all the boxes. It is not bragging if it's facts. Ensure you have all your achievements properly documented as evidence of the promotion you deserve.

Feeling that promotion itch? Here’s the lowdown: You’re nailing your current role when it feels like your comfort zone has become, well, too comfortable. You're hungry for more: more responsibility, more challenges, more impact. You've got a track record of wins and your boss is already leaning on you for higher-level stuff. Your colleagues? They’re coming to you for advice, and you're leading without the title. And that gut feeling? It's telling you, "I've got this." If you're nodding along, guess what – you're promotion-ready. Step up and own it.

For women who may hesitate to proactively seek promotions, self-assessment is key. If the job feels too comfortable and routine, it's a signal that you've mastered your current role. Confidence in your abilities is crucial. If you find yourself consistently exceeding expectations and taking on additional responsibilities, it's likely an indication that you're ready for a promotion and should be PAYED MORE! Document your achievements and contributions, showcasing the value you bring to the team. Remember, if you can navigate your role with ease, it's a sign that you're capable of taking on new challenges.

Frequently we aspire to a promotion, not because it's what we want, but because it's what we think we SHOULD do. We reflexively look up the ladder rather than within ourselves to determine what really speaks to us at this point in our career. Increasingly, people are looking for a different relationship with work - one that allows for greater self-expression, flexibility, learning, autonomy, balance, meaning, joy (and the list goes on.) These qualities can be at cross-purposes with a promotion. So, before you throw your hat in the ring for that next position, take time to ask yourself: Will this offer the experience of work I want/need right now? If the answer is yes, good luck. If not, still good luck as you find something even better.