If you’re looking to land a promotion soon, January is one of the top three months for professionals to get promoted within their company. But being successful on the corporate ladder involves a lot of preparation and hard work.
Whether you’re up for a promotion now or plan to be soon, there are certainly things to do and avoid moving forward. To prepare for the upcoming promotion season, there are six mistakes you should avoid when up for a promotion:
1. Making your contributions invisible.
If you’re doing great work for your business, make sure you’re getting the appropriate acknowledgement for that work. The key word in that sentence was “appropriate.” Don’t badger upper management with every move you make. But make sure you don’t become a wallflower or let coworkers take credit for your ideas or work. This will not only make it look like you’re not doing your job, but also it shows your lack of managerial skills.
2. Missing deadlines.
Just because you landed the interview for a promotion doesn’t mean it’s yours. Before you jump the gun, keep up with your work. In fact, work harder and better than before. Prove you’re ready for the promotion and you’re willing to go the extra mile. Don’t let the excitement of a possible promotion make you lose focus, because that is a sure-fire way to lose the promotion.
3. Not contributing to the betterment of the business.
Promotions aside, the best employees in any company add value to and improve the business. You should aim to do the same when up for a promotion, if you aren’t doing so already. If you’re not contributing to better business models, processes, or even the work environment, you’re likely not going to get the position.
4. Not being a team player.
Great employees are team players. If you’re not fitting in with the company culture or just not getting along with your coworkers, it’s time to start pulling your weight. Working well with others is key to succeeding in any business.
5. Relying on job connections only.
Networking is a great way to land a job or a promotion. But relying only on your connections is also a great way to lose said job or connection. Don’t think that knowing Mr. Smith on the 21st floor is going to land you the job — work hard and prove you’re actually right for the position. Let your job connections complement your hard work and great interviewing skills.
6. Letting your ego get in the way.
The biggest hindrance to landing a promotion is letting your ego get in the way. As I said above, you don’t have the job yet. So don’t let the idea of getting a promotion go to your head. It’s important to work just as hard as you did before, nail the interview, and prove you’re ready to take the next step on the corporate ladder.
Landing a promotion is no easy task. And if you’re up for a promotion, don’t blow it by making these mistakes.
What mistakes have you made when you were up for a promotion?
