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Get that Promotion
 Gaining a promotion can be a difficult task at the best of times, and with the recession and the subsequent budget cuts and headcount freezes of late, promotions can sometimes feel like a distant memory. But there are still opportunities out there, and these will continue to grow as the recovery comes.
Despite being indispensable, reliable and hard working members of the team, some staff often fade into the background – and when you’re invisible in the workplace, the chances of gaining a promotion are going to be slim. Making yourself a more prominent force in the office means that you are not just doing a good job but you are being seen to be doing a good job, so if a promotion opportunity arises you can be at the front of the queue. But how can you do this?
Don’t think of yourself as an employee, but as a brand – a marketable product. Think about what makes you stand out and what important qualities and characteristics you have and then use these to really show your full potential. For instance, what do you do in your role that benefits the company and your boss? Whether this is solving problems before they develop or having excellent diplomacy skills, it will make life easier for your employer and save them from having to spend valuable time dealing with problems.
Think about how you are important and what you have achieved for the company. And then use this information to your advantage – make your successes known, whether that’s in your appraisal or in day to day conversations. Also think about what makes you unique; what skills or talents do you bring to the business that makes you stand out amongst your peers.
To really raise your profile in the workplace, volunteer for extra tasks that will give you that added visibility within the company and among its people. Use your marketable assets to make a valuable contribution to projects, events and meetings and make yourself a sought after resource. You could then even be in a position to make suggestions about improvements which could benefit the company and subsequently impress many people within it.
Remain confident – it’s half the battle! Make everyone aware that you are there, are a strong member of the team and are doing your job well. And when making yourself visible, remain professional. This stretches from the basics of dressing smartly, having a good handshake and being polite through to using business language and communicating well. Remember that everything you do will contribute to people’s view of brand ‘you’, whether this be conduct in meetings, communication with other members of staff or merely sending an email or answering the telephone. These people then become part of your marketing campaign – what they say about you will also help build your brand and reputation.
By developing yourself into a more visible and integral member of the business team, promotion prospects will be looking up and new opportunities will arise. And the best thing is, marketing yourself does not require any extra work - it merely reinforces your hard work and the effort that you make, to everyone else.
Helen Hook is Senior Manager at specialist office support recruiter, Crone Corkill
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