See Yourself Promoted
By Michael Crom
Question: I graduated from college last year and recently gained a job at a well-respected accounting company. I am a diligent worker and have never had a bad reference from any of my past employers. I do and always have done everything I am assigned to the best of my ability. My problem is, I don’t often take initiative to go beyond my job requirements. It’s not that I don’t want to or can’t, but simply that I don’t think about things until someone else has already done them. I am really happy with the company I work for and would like to have the opportunity to move up in the future. Do you have any suggestions for ways I could ensure a promotion?
Answer: Congratulations on realizing that you have some areas that you need help with. It’s great that your previous companies recognized you as a hard-working employee, however if you never push yourself, you’ll never exceed your own potential. Here are some things to look at in order to start climbing your way up the corporate ladder:
- See the bigger picture. Sometimes we get so caught up with the day-to-day tasks that we miss what the larger goal is. It is very easy for e-mail, memos and daily agendas to grow on your desk until you can no longer see what the company’s mission is, much less your own. Evaluate your company’s mission statement every month — even tape it in front of you. This way, you will be reminded every day that these short-term tasks are part of a long-term objective.
- See yourself in that picture. You said you like working for your company, and much of that reason probably has to do with the fact you respect what it does and why and how it does it. Now look at your own strengths and figure out what areas both you and the company could benefit from. Try to stop looking at the company and yourself as separate entities and see what you can contribute to the whole.
- Make others see you. While you said that you rarely see new opportunities before others do, it’s more likely that you just don’t voice your ideas when they appear. Start being more aware of yourself. Jot down that little thought that doesn’t seem like a big deal now. Noting key ideas, observations, or problems often amass to a revolutionary improvement later. Mention these ideas and solutions you came up with to your boss at a meeting, and he’ll definitely jot down good thoughts of you.
The major thing to remember is to just seize the moment. Every moment is a chance to succeed and move forward. Add this to your great work ethic and you’ll be climbing in no time.
Michael Crom is executive vice president of Dale Carnegie Training.
Are You Getting the Promotions You Deserve?
If you don’t feel like you get the recognition and promotions you should, ask yourself why others around you get the promotions while you get left behind. When you are just as competent, or more so, than those that rise above you, often the answer is simple. You just don’t get noticed. To get the best promotions where you work, you need to stand out from the crowd. If you work in accounting or bookkeeping, one of the quickest ways to get noticed is by getting additional training. Because the Professional Bookkeeper course is distance learning, you can fit in career accellerating training with the most hectic schedule. You owe it to yourself to learn how to get noticed and get promoted.
Learn How the Professional Bookkeeper Program Can Get Your Career In the Fast Lane
