The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

228 / BECOMING SUCCESSFUL

Achieving promotion

Getting promoted within your organization depends

on being seen to be doing a good job and having the

capability of doing a bigger job. You will probably

need to improve your visibility within the company

and cultivate key internal contacts, so become

known more widely. Try putting yourself forward

as a spokesperson for your team, or devise

presentations on aspects of your work that

you can deliver to a wider audience. Many large

organizations run fast-track schemes, so make

sure both your boss and the Human Resources

department know you are interested.

Considering options

A job is not just its title—it is the

experience you gain and what you will

be able to make of this experience in

your later career. If you are in a clerical

role, for example, why not volunteer to be

involved in the continuous improvement

program. And if people don’t see you as

management material, volunteer for an

external role, perhaps with a charity,

and develop your leadership skills that

way. Talk to your boss about opportunities

that may be open to you. If you are a

valued employee, your organization

will be interested in your future.

Changing jobs

You may need to leave your current

organization to achieve your aims, but

don’t act without careful consideration.

Ask yourself where you want to go to

next, rather than focusing on escaping

from the present. How will your move

look on your résumé three or five years

from now? Future employers usually

look favorably on an internal promotion

on your résumé. Above all, try very

hard never to leave a job on a sour

note—you will probably need an excellent

reference or testimonial from your

current employer to get your next job.

Moving on

For some, the ideal career is a series of well-timed promotions within

one organization, but gaining job satisfaction often necessitates finding

a new role in a new company. Each move you make should give you

the experience to progress in your career, so you should choose

your opportunities carefully. But when is the right time to change

and when is it better to stay put?

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