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Asking for a promotion can be one of the most stressful experiences in your career. Because you know you're putting yourself at some level of risk.
The often legitimate fears of appearing too ambitious, or not being focused enough on doing your best work, can trigger unnecessary missteps.
However, if you're strategic about your pursuit, you can change the frustrating dynamic of feeling undervalued. Here, 9 mistakes to avoid if you are trying to get promoted:
Many employees ask for a promotion, raise, new privileges and more -all at once. This will likely frustrate your boss. Know your priorities and work down the list as concisely as possible.
Old-fashioned career advice will advise you to use a fresh job offer as leverage to improve your existing position or salary. Although doing this might be a wise choice, be ready to back out if things don't work out.
Without the proper context, your manager might interpret this as a scheme to get you a promotion. They probably won't like it.
There’s room for everyone to be successful — and just because you want that new role that opened up doesn’t mean anyone else does. Don’t let your ambition or your insecurity cause you to act in ways that you’ll regret later.
There’s no need to put your team members down to make yourself look better by comparison. Focus on how you can make everyone better in your new position.
Wanting to look your best is only natural while vying for a promotion. But this tactic could backfire if you're putting in excessively long hours or committing to too many projects. You can exhaust yourself or fail to complete a crucial assignment.
Take cautious with your energy. No promotion is worth jeopardizing your well-being or professional advancement.
If you’re really tired of your current role, you may think any ol’ job will do. While wanting a change is understandable, you should only apply for roles that you’re genuinely interested in.
Throwing your hat in the ring for a variety of roles may make you look unfocused. The leadership team may look at you as a less serious candidate when a job description you really want comes around.
We already know that being quiet about your desire for a promotion won't help. However, neither will remain silent about the difficulties you're facing.
Informing your management about your personal growth encourages dialogue and demonstrates your commitment to the position.
You may have childcare to pay for or a sick family member, but that isn’t a good reason for your company to spend more money on you. Avoid using your personal life to make the case for why you need a promotion.
Your company may care about your well-being, but they won’t see that as a compelling factor in their bottom line. Focus on the great work you've done instead.
You will be discussed, even if you are applying for an inside position. The hiring committee could want to look at your portfolio, resume, or what turns up on Google and LinkedIn.
Avoid sharing or posting anything that is at odds with how you want to be seen in your new position.
Employees sometimes retreat too quickly. If you quickly shy away at the first furrowed eyebrows, you could lose a golden opportunity. Measured tenacity--gauged by the flow of the conversation--can be your best guide on next steps.