Have you been putting in extra hours at your job? Have you been in this position for a while now and think that you’ve contributed immensely to the growth of your company? And now you’re thinking that you deserve a promotion and a raise?
Going out and putting yourself out to your managers can throw you on an anxiety trip, and to top that, you’re not really sure how to approach your management for a promotion. Since this is one of the major cornerstone decisions you’ll be making for your career, all you need to do is master the art of timing and the art of talking. But you’d rather make an effort than not try at all, isn’t it?
If you want to know how to ask your manager for a promotion and actually get it, then read on.
3 Cues When You Can Ask For A Promotion
While there is no set formula for asking for a promotion, there are particular circumstances in which it is fairer to do so.
1. You’ve Contributed To The Company’s Turnover
If the impact of your contribution to your organisation’s business is measurable, you may have a strong case for a promotion. Consider your achievements over the last six months, as well as how your work has impacted your team and the organisation as a whole. To demonstrate how you add value to the company, evaluate measurable criteria such as sales revenue or influence on marketing performance. Before you can show results, you may need to discuss with your manager how your job might have a greater impact on the company.
2. You’ve Been Taking More Responsibility
It might be a good time to pursue a promotion if you’ve taken on more responsibilities than what your existing position entails. Check your job description once more to see if your current responsibilities are in line with it. While a job’s responsibilities can alter over time, a major increase in your daily to-dos, particularly in management or leadership, could indicate a well-deserved promotion. Schedule a call with your boss to talk about their expectations for your current position and how your additional tasks might fit into the bigger picture.
3. You’re Ready For More
After a duration of time in your current role, you may decide that you want to advance your career within the organisation. You’re probably aware of corporate policies and procedures, as well as the basic requirements and processes of the job title above you. This provides you a leg up in the competition. Many companies prefer to promote from within to fill positions since it is a time-saver and more cost-effective than searching for a new employee. Because you already possess the necessary skills, and the organisation is familiar with you and the quality of your work, your boss is more likely to consider you for a higher-level position.
How To Ask For Promotion The Right Way?
1. Can Prove That You Deserve A Promotion
The most crucial aspect of how to ask your manager for a promotion is being able to demonstrate to them that you deserve it and are prepared to take on greater responsibilities. Make a list of your most noteworthy accomplishments, so you can emphasise these to your supervisor. These will be your most important talking points, so use them to highlight your individual abilities, how you’ve gone above and beyond, and how you wish to progress in the firm. If you have a certain job position in mind, tell your manager about it and why you’re up for the challenge.
2. Plan The Perfect Time
Your annual or semi-annual performance review is the most obvious place to bring up a promotion. This is a convenient time for you and your manager to talk about how you’re performing and your possibilities for advancement. If you’re worried about how to ask for a promotion, request it outside of the yearly review period, write an email requesting a meeting and specifying that you’d like to talk about your progress and future at the organisation. You don’t want to catch your supervisor off guard, and giving them an advance heads up allows them to consider your performance and what they may offer you.
3. Change The Paradigm (Make It About The Company, Not You
To be honest, your boss isn’t probably interested in you as a person, so how to convince your boss you deserve a promotion? By showing them how you perform as an employee and what you can do to assist their company. Don’t make it all about you when you ask for a promotion. Demonstrate to your boss that you care about the company’s growth and how you might help them in a higher position. Use tangible data points to demonstrate how you’re delivering value to the firm wherever possible (and ready to make even more significant contributions).
You’ll have to work hard and put in the time to achieve a promotion. The opportunities won’t land in your lap just by daydreaming about them – you’ll have to work hard for them.
How To Ask For A Pay Raise Smartly?
Presenting a sound case supported by facts and examples is the special tonic behind a successful rise in salary. While they may not agree to it right away, you must go in prepared to make it more difficult for them to refuse you.
1. Know Your Worth And Numbers
What is the existing pay scale for your job position and location right now? Salaries can vary dramatically depending on where you work or what location you’re in. You’ll have an easier time justifying a salary raise if there’s concrete evidence that you’re comparatively underpaid in comparison to others in your region. If you’re already at the top of the pay scale, you’ll need to do some further research and rationalisation to support your claim. Because the same work or job title may differ from one organisation to the next, websites that examine salaries may not always be totally accurate.
2. Be Ready To Negotiate
When it comes to asking for a raise or a promotion, knowing your worth is critical. In fact, not knowing how to negotiate a raise is one of the most common professional blunders. You shouldn’t bring numbers into the conversation until you’ve been offered the promotion, but you should be ready with one when the topic arises. Study to find out how much you’re worth. Don’t undervalue yourself, and don’t be hesitant to ask for more. It doesn’t harm to aim high because your boss will nearly always give you less than you ask for.
3. Consider Other Perks
A raise does not have to be monetary. Consider other areas where you are willing to bargain, such as vacation time, flexible work hours, stock options, or other reimbursements, before commencing discussions.
Above all, keep in mind that if you’re in the correct position, your boss will appreciate your desire to grow. Nobody gets fired for asking for a raise. You’re simply harming yourself if you don’t ask.
7 Dos & Don’ts When Asking For Promotion
While you’re learning how to ask for a promotion and raise, you need to keep these pointers in mind.
| Dos | Don’ts |
| 1. Plan the meeting. 2. Dress for success. 3. Think about what you deserve instead of what you “need”. 4. Consider the timing of the proposal. | 1. Don’t leave out data and numbers in your presentation. 2. Don’t compare yourself to your coworkers. 3. Don’t threaten to leave if the management says no. |
Key Takeaways
- Put in the proposal for your promotion after doing research and considering the timings.
- Think about what you can provide the company.
- Know your worth and present a well-put-together pitch (with relevant data and proof of your contribution).
- Be professional and don’t threaten or hold grudges because of rejection.
One of the most nerve-wracking situations any employee’s faces is asking for a promotion and raise. However, if you go into the process completely prepared and confident in your abilities, you’ll have a better chance of getting the promotion you deserve. If you get the promotion, that’s fantastic! Go out and enjoy yourself—you’ve earned it! But, if that isn’t the case, remember that it isn’t the end of the world.
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