Provisional Blog

As one of the premier employment firms in the Northwest, we certainly understand that the thought of asking your boss for a promotion can be terrifying. After all, in this economy, shouldn’t you be happy to just have a job?

But if you’ve been taking on more and more responsibility at work, are a long-time asset to the company, and feel like you’re ready – and deserve to – move up the company ladder, then by all means go for it.

With that said, getting promoted isn’t as simple as just asking for it. You first need to sell your boss on the idea and why you deserve it. And you can do that by using one small word: Because.

“Because” forces you to think about the actual reasons why you deserve a promotion. It also gives you the facts you need to get your boss on board with it. Your boss isn’t monitoring your every move and so may not know about all your recent successes and accomplishments. It’s up to you to toot your own horn.

For example, rather than just saying “I’ve worked really hard, so feel I deserve a promotion” instead say “I deserve a promotion because I consistently bring in new clients to the company. As a result, sales have increased by 10%.”

To help you prepare for the big “ask,” here are some additional tips:

• Schedule a meeting with your boss and let him or her know you want to discuss your job performance. Don’t just drop by unannounced.
• Write down all of your recent achievements and successes, from a positive comment from a customer to landing a big new client. Bring your list with you to the meeting.
• Research what you’re worth in the job marketplace; also bring those statistics with you to the meeting.
• Besides talking about your past accomplishments, tell your boss how you plan to build on them in the future, and how doing so will benefit your boss and the company as a whole.

If the boss says no to a promotion, inquire why and what you can do to get promoted.

And if there’s simply no room for advancement at your company, and you’re ready to move on, Provisional can help. As one of the premier employment firms in the Northwest, we can help you locate the position that best matches your skills and interests. Search jobs now.

Certain people always have great jobs. They always seem to land the promotion.  And they always seem to be successful with everything they touch.

Is this just luck or a coincidence?  Nope!  These people don’t wait for things to happen, they make their own luck.  So what can you do to ensure you’re successful?  You can start by following these five tips:

1. Have a positive attitude–always!
   Your attitude can be a powerful self-fulfilling prophecy.  If you have a negative attitude, 9 times out of 10 you will fail.  But, if you bring a positive attitude and display confidence, strength, and determination, you WILL be successful.  
2. Stay educated.
   The best way to ensure success is to stay one step ahead. Research your industry. Know what’s happening and what the experts say will happen. Look for trends. When you find them, start to train yourself in these areas. Knowledge is power.
3. Create a personal elevator pitch
   First impressions mean a lot.  If you only had 30 seconds to convince someone you were a hard-worker and a leader, what would you say and do?  Plan this ahead of time; you never know when it will be needed.
4. Learn to network.
   Unfortunately sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know (at least to begin with).  Learn to network. You can even network within your own company. Invite co-workers to lunch. Take the time to walk by someone’s office to say hello. And actively seek out opportunities to network outside of work by joining organizations, groups, etc.  You start by seeking out your local chamber of commerce to learn of upcoming events.
5. Be open to new opportunities.
   Read trade publications. Listen to people in your network.  When a new opportunity presents itself, don’t sit back and wait.  Take the initiative to inquire more–and don’t be shy!

Bonus Tip!
Call Provisional Recruiting and Staffing.  We are Spokane and Seattle’s leading employment agency offering outstanding jobs in Seattle and Spokane.