6 Ways to Prepare for Your Promotion Now - The Muse

6 Ways to Prepare for Your Promotion Now - The Muse6 Ways to Prepare for Your Promotion NowIt almost sounds silly to say, but there are times when getting promoted isnt really on your mind. Maybe youve just started a new job and are still getting into the swing of things. Maybe the next step up for you is a big, big step- one you wont be quite ready for until a couple of years from now.But even if this is the case, you still may want to get promoted someday. And, for that reason, there are a few things you should be doing to set yourself up for success. The good news is, they wont take much effort now- but theyll pay serious dividends when youre ready to ask down the line.1. Keep Track of Your AccomplishmentsYou know that feeling Youve been at the same job for a couple of years, its time to apply for a new one, and you pull out your resume. And- with a sinking feeling- you realize that you have to recall all of your accomplishments from the last 24 months, leid to mention gather data to put numbers to them. (Just how much did that ad campaign you ran affect sales?)The same goes when youre up for a new gig at your current company. When youre asking for a promotion, youre going to want to have a rundown of all the amazing things youve accomplished at your job.So, make your life then easier, and start a running tally of your achievements- think sales numbers, project results, and awesome client feedback. (Better yet, dont just keep these accomplishments to yourself. After, say, the end of a big project, send a wrap-up email to your boss detailing the results.)To get started making this a regular habit, try filling out this handy worksheet- it only takes 10 minutes a week to do2. Go to Training- and Keep Track of it, TooAlong similar lines, keep a list of any trainings youve been to or certifications youve earned- everything from that industry conference you attended to the company management training you went through to courses youve taken outside of work. This is so easy- just keep a note in your phone or on your desktop, and take a couple seconds to add to it any time you attend a new training- but itll seriously come in handy when youre ready for that next level and can easily show your manager why youre qualified.And yes, implicit in this step is that youre actually going to trainings, conferences, and courses. Even if promotion isnt immediately on the horizon, its always a good idea to keep gaining new skills- who knows when your HTML or press release writing prowess might be just what your department needs?3. Pay Attention to Who Gets PromotedIf youre in a small team or company, this can be tough, but try to keep an eye on the people around you. Which of your co-workers are getting promoted? When?More importantly, is there a common thread among the people who succeed at your office? Pay attention to any signals you can glean- maybe theyre all super tight with your boss or they consistently exceed their sales goals by at least 10%. At a previous job, I heard my department manager joke that hed never promote anyone who left at 5 every day- but joke or not, I noticed that he consistently stuck to that guideline.Even if theres no real pattern, you can learn a lot about what it takes to (eventually) move up at your organization by watching the actions, habits, and accomplishments of others whove been successful.4. Be an Open BookIf your boss is like most, he or she cares about your career goals. (Really.) So, if moving up in your company is something youd like to do someday, dont be shy about sharing that. No, you shouldnt remind him or her at every update you have, but its OK to bring it up from time to time.At your reviews (formal or informal), mention that your goal is to grow within the company, and ask for your boss advice on what you can be doing now to eventually be ready for the next level. Or, seek out people whove been at the company for a while, and ask what their path to growth within the company looked li ke. If your boss and other higher-ups know that you want to be promoted someday, they can offer you insight and advice thatll help you along the way.5. Look for Ways to Pitch InAt most companies, therell be opportunities to join committees or take on responsibilities that arent necessarily part of your job description Your company is overhauling its social media procedures and needs a representative from every department to sit on the project team, say, or your office is putting on a major fundraiser for the first time and needs someone to coordinate with the event planning company.Assuming youve got a good handle on your current job, these can be awesome opportunities. Youll gain new skills, youll meet more people at work, and youll learn about how things are done across the organization- all things that position you for that someday promotion. At my last job, I volunteered to sit in on a company-wide web redesign committee. When my department restructured and needed a head of web communications a year later, I was a natural fit for the role.6. Dress for the Job You WantI know. Youve heard it a thousand times Dress for the job you want, not the one youve got. But I think this message goes far beyond the clothes you wear every day Its how you present yourself in meetings and at office events, how you interact with staff both above and below you, and how seriously you take your work.Look at how the people one step up from you look, act, and yes, dress, and start doing that now. Lets be honest If you wait until two months before you want to ask for a promotion to start acting the part, it wont exactly look genuine. Step it up now, and hey- that promotion might just be closer than you think.