3 Tips For Getting Ahead At Work

by Professional Development

A lot of people’s professional goals including getting a raise and a promotion. So, I wanted to share three tips for getting ahead at work. 

1. Talk early

 

Most of the decisions about titles and salaries are made well in advance of when they’re announced. So, make sure you’re talking in your annual review about where you want to be in the next year. And set up some time to talk to your boss maybe 6 months in advance. Have a clear understanding of the steps and timing to get there. 

 

2. Do research

Look at what people inside and outside of your company in your role are making. Some companies have particularly clear salary ranges and job descriptions but most do not. As you’re looking at other companies understand if the role responsibilities are comparable. And have a sense for the range that is could depend on the location, size or type of the company. You can search for some of this information online but it’s particularly helpful to talk to people. 

 

3. Do the job

One of the frequent complaints I hear from people is that they’re doing the job but yet to have the salary and title. This is actually very typical. Make sure that you’re demonstrating the skills that you’ve agree you need before the promotion. Do this either within your role or by volunteering for other opportunities. Then make sure you can back this up, that other people have seen you doing the work, and if you can get numbers for any of those successes all the better.

Getting ahead at work isn’t just about working harder. It’s about having a strategic understanding of what it takes to get ahead. And what better way than to ask.

 

Do you have a defined goal within your company? And have you discussed the path to get there? 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, I’m Dana

I transform how professionals and teams work, because more hours is the enemy of more impact.

CATEGORIES

If you liked this post, you’re gonna love these…

The “coma” story

The “coma” story

I told her I’d just come out of a coma.   That was my line to my personal trainer on our very first conversation: “Treat me like I’ve just come out of a coma.”   It was half-joke, half-truth. Years of back problems plus a foot issue had kept me from my...

Don’t let Q4 run you over

Don’t let Q4 run you over

Q4 always seems to sneak up on us. One minute it is summer, and the next, the calendar is packed, the holidays are around the corner, and every project suddenly feels urgent.A client recently told me they always feel like they “lose” Q4. By the time December arrives,...

From new manager to real leader

From new manager to real leader

Stepping into leadership can be tricky. You're great at your role, and now you're managing people, which is a different skill set. I just wrapped a coaching engagement with a client who recently took on direct reports. Fortunately, their company supported coaching, so...

Can you answer this simple question?

Can you answer this simple question?

Yesterday I asked a client a simple question: ​“What’s one thing you’re good at?” They paused. They hesitated. And they honestly struggled to answer. And they’re not alone. So many of us freeze when it comes to talking about what we do well. We call it “tooting our...

Back to school (kind of)

Back to school (kind of)

I took a long weekend for an alumni event at UC Santa Cruz. It was set right in the middle of the redwoods, and yes, the Banana Slug is the mascot for good reason. And while it was wonderful to see familiar faces, I also came back with a few unexpected takeaways:...

When your new hire isn’t working out

When your new hire isn’t working out

New hires are exciting… and yes, even the great ones can be a little exhausting at first. But what if they are not great? I was talking with a client recently who was starting to have doubts about their newest hire. The skills were there. The fit seemed right. And...

Neglected your network? Read this.

Neglected your network? Read this.

The questions are rolling in from Dana On Demand, and I just got one that comes up again and again: “I’ve totally neglected my network, and now I feel like an asshole reaching out when I need something.” Let me be clear. You're not an asshole. Unless you act like one....

Mid-summer and feeling unfocused?

Mid-summer and feeling unfocused?

First, I think we need to acknowledge that we're not always focused on getting ahead at work. Summer is often a time to take a step back and recharge.   Maybe you're carting kids from camp to camp.Maybe you’ve got a big vacation on the books.Maybe you’re just...

2025 books so far…

2025 books so far…

I'm now 2 for 2 in my decision to do a mid-year check-in on my media consumption (and 0 for 3 on quarterly), so I guess it's working well enough.   I started the year off with a severely sprained ankle, which impacted my walking and listening to audiobooks. And...

Wait… how is it already July?

Wait… how is it already July?

Can you believe it’s July 1? Somehow, we’re halfway through the year. Whether you’ve been thriving or just surviving, it’s a moment worth pausing for.   It seems like just yesterday I struggled to find a theme word for 2025. I landed on Thrive. Eventually.  ...