Asking for a promotion is a big step. People don't ask for a promotion frequently, so it is important to make sure you are certain about your request when you make it and that you make it count.
The following are five things you should do before asking for a promotion.
1. Care
An important step to take before asking for a promotion is to look like you care. Wear clothes that match the job you want to be considered for. This is something you need to do weeks or months before you ask so your employer doesn't think you are doing this just to get a promotion.
Your clothes are not the only thing you should pay attention to; make sure you maintain your overall professional look by grooming yourself well. Taking these sorts of steps tells the employer you care about your work and that you are going to present a positive face when representing the company.
2. Add Value
There is no doubt that you were hired with a few skills or talents to your name, but you are now asking for a promotion, which means you should show growth. Sure, you probably have picked up a few skills or talents onsite, but you need to show that you are willing to run an extra mile for the company. An effective way of doing this is by furthering your education in a way that shows your initiative and shows that you want to be helpful.
You can go back to school and get an additional degree beyond the one you already have. You can also earn certification in the skills of tomorrow, which most companies can use to their advantage. There are a number of them out there; for example, you can look into the apache spark tutorial to help you become an effective Big Data analyzer and earn your Spark Certification.
3. Promote Yourself
Before you ask for your promotion, find a way to create a little anticipation. In other words, you need to promote yourself so that your employer knows who you are and knows your work. What you can do is take on a little more work, and make sure each project is done well.
Now, all of this work you are taking on is great, but you need to make sure your supervisors know about it. Go ahead and ask for input on each project you complete so that your supervisors know what you are working on. You might also want to find out if you can send updates on your progress to the people above you, giving them a reason to remember you.
4. Create a Team
As much as people like to say "self-made," it's rarely true because no one gets anywhere without a support system. Someone has to give you a hand either indirectly or directly to help get you to that next stage in your life, and employers know this. This is the reason you want to gather a team of employees who you work well with to help you complete projects more effectively.
Creating this group of supporters not only helps you present better work; it also shows initiative. It shows employers that you are willing to work with others and have the ability to combine the talent from different people in order to create something even better. You want to highlight these types of skills if you want to ask for a promotion.
5. Compile Your Work
The next thing you can do is compile all your work by the time you are ready to ask for that promotion. Create a folder that shows all the projects you've completed among any other achievements you've had with the company. Asking your employer for a promotion with this kind of information at hand shows that you understand your value.
Yes, it is a bold move, and it may even make you feel like you are showing off, but the reality is you are just presenting your value to the company. You are trying to put yourself in a position where you can do the most good within this company. These are the kinds of things you want to communicate to your employer as you ask for your promotion.
Be patient when you are preparing to ask for a promotion because you won't get another chance for some time. Believe in yourself, and be sure to practice what you are going to say before you ask this question.