I want my promotion!

You have been putting in the work. Producing stellar presentations, logging long hours and just being an overall exemplary employee. The position you want opens up and you expect that you are going to get it. But it doesn’t happen. You wonder why since you have been doing so well and your boss has said so. Here are some reasons you may have not been successful and some ideas on how to address them:

1. You did not interview well. Although your work is appreciated and you work very hard, you may not be a good fit for the position as yet. You may not have all of the competencies to function effectively in the position. Perhaps your leadership skills are not yet where they need to be. Is the role you interviewed for supervisory and you do not have experience managing staff? The candidate that was successful would have been more suitable for the role than you based on their experience and or qualifications. Do not take it personally. If you can, speak with HR and ask where you went wrong and what you need to do to improve. Remember to keep it cordial when you do visit them – do not be confrontational especially if you felt cheated. Wait until you are able to be objective.

2. You set your expectations too high. Some people think that the length of time they have been working at a company automatically entitles them to a promotion. Similarly, people may think that a sound work ethic guarantees them that raise. That is not the case. A myriad of factors comes into play when employees are being considered for an upgrade. Do not set yourself up for disappointment by thinking that you are bound to be promoted. Timing is everything. When it is appropriate, express to your boss or your liaison in HR that you are interested in a specific position or upcoming opportunities that may become available. Let them guide you on what they are looking for and where you can improve if necessary.

3. You are not a team player. Do you dread working with others and only make the effort to do so when forced? This is probably a big reason why you are not being considered. Regardless of whether you do most of your work on your own, at some point you have to work with your colleagues. It may be on a formal project or for some one time activity where you needed to get information from your peers. If your reputation around the office is that you are hard to work with or a “diva”, this will definitely limit your ability to move forward. If this is you, own your shortcoming and make a conscious effort to be more supportive and easy-going with your colleagues. Do not dismiss teammates and do not withhold information that can and should be shared. Be helpful. By improving your demeanour, you will improve your chances of being considered for better roles.

When we feel that we are deserving of that promotion, we tend to be very sensitive if we do not receive it on our schedule. Do not despair. Reflect on where you may have fallen short and determine what needs to be done so that the next opening will be yours. Everything happens at the right time.

#PeritusSundays #Perituscanhelp #promotion #selfawareness #improvement