Would you like a job promotion, but you’re not sure how to go about it? We have eight simple ways you can get promoted at work and earn more money!
Ah, the elusive job promotion. While most people would jump at the chance to move ahead at work and enjoy the pay bump that should rightfully come along with a promotion, catching your boss’s eye in your current job isn’t always as simple as it may seem.
If you are a woman and finding it more difficult to move up the career ladder than you think it should be, you’re not alone. And you’re probably not wrong. Research published in 2024 shows that women are still less likely to get promoted than men, even when they are more qualified.
In the journal article “‘Potential’ and the Gender Promotion Gap,” the authors found that, on average, female workers earned higher performance ratings than their male counterparts but received lower ratings for their “potential” than men. As you can imagine, being critiqued as having less potential directly impacted the women’s wallets and translated to fewer career opportunities.
Specifically, the women in the longitudinal study were 14% less likely to be promoted than their male coworkers. Ouch. The researchers from MIT and the Yale School of Management, among others, used data on nearly 30,000 management-track employees from a large retail chain based in North America between 2009 and 2015 and found that “women receive substantially lower potential ratings despite receiving higher job performance ratings.”
Do women still have a long way to go when it comes to getting ahead at work? That would be a resounding yes. But take heart. There are some strategic steps we can take to improve our chances of earning promotions – and making more money for ourselves, our families, and our futures.
If you are looking to get ahead at the office, here are some simple ways to get promoted at work.
1. Be a Problem Solver
One effective way to get promoted at work is to be a problem solver.
While there’s no getting around the fact that problems will sometimes (or many times) arise in the workplace, you can choose to be a person who brings a problem to the attention of management or someone who presents the problem and offers an effective solution.
Experts at the Harvard Business School explain that many managers really appreciate it when someone shows initiative and offers suggestions for solving problems. Because when that happens, they can continue to focus on their own work and gain more respect and gratitude for the person who helped make their day – and job – a little less stressful.
2. Request Feedback From Management
To better understand what is expected of you – and then be able to know how to meet and exceed those expectations – it’s smart to check in with your supervisor or manager to make sure you are both on the same page when it comes to performance and any other factors related to your work. This is especially important if your employer does not offer annual performance reviews.
To request this type of feedback, make sure to schedule an appointment with your supervisor and let them know the topic in advance so they can also prepare for the meeting.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Develop New Skills
If you meet with your boss and find that you need to build your expertise in certain areas, take the guidance and insights in stride. After all, we don’t know what we don’t know. You can start by looking for ways to boost your skill set. You can volunteer for additional work assignments outside of your comfort zone or take online courses offered through LinkedIn and other credible sources to expand your promotion opportunities.
4. Practice Asking for What You Want
Once you have feedback on your current role, it’s important to be upfront about your career goals. After all, supervisors and managers can’t read minds, so you will have to speak up. And yes, we know that not everyone is good at asking for what they want. That’s why it can be helpful to role-play certain conversations with a friend, spouse, or even a career coach. Getting comfortable asking for what you want at work will help you feel and sound more confident.
5. Model Good Behavior
While it may be tempting to share in what seems like harmless office gossip, whether that’s around a water cooler or before and after Zoom meetings, you need to steer clear of anything that doesn’t promote a positive work culture. Managers and bosses don’t just take what we produce into account when they promote from within.
While you may not realize it, you are often being judged, watched, and monitored – whatever you want to call it – through every meeting, presentation, and interaction with colleagues. While it may sound cliché, it’s often a team player, someone who will rise above the fray and keep their side of the street clean (thank you, Taylor Swift) who is more likely to move up than those who roll their eyes and share snide remarks when they think no one is listening.
6. Hone Your Political Skills
These political skills have little to do with red or blue affiliations. This is more about how you conduct yourself among colleagues and superiors in work settings. Research published by The International Journal of Human Resource Management shows that “political skills are significantly correlated with career success.” Those who are effective at practicing office politics are often described as self-aware and emotionally intelligent decision-makers. They know how to build strong relationships with other team members that can work to everyone’s advantage.
7. Communicate Often and Effectively
This is especially important for those who work remotely or work from home. It’s vital to share information effectively and efficiently with managers and colleagues through written communications, video chats, and even in-person gatherings. That means making sure your camera is on during Zoom calls and Teams meetings and that you have something to add to the conversation or chat when appropriate.
Likewise, when you write an email, don’t send it out without a quick review to ensure that you haven’t made any errors and that your message is as concise as possible. Brevity – while not always possible – is certainly appreciated.
8. Be Willing to Move On
In some work situations, no matter how qualified you are and how great a fit you would be at a particular role, you won’t be able to move up on your own time frame. That’s when it could be time to polish your resume and consider looking for a better job at a different company that would equate to a promotion and more pay to go with it.
How to Get Promoted at Work: Conclusion
As with so many things in life, it’s not one big win that sets you apart and on track to get the promotion you are hoping to achieve. Many times, it’s a series of smaller successes, conversations, and moments that build over time to help you move up. As mentioned previously, it’s also imperative that you ask for what you want and be willing to share your good work and career aspirations with your leadership team. After all, we miss 100% of the shots we don’t take.
