You’ve worked at your employer for at least a year, possibly even two or three. You’ve worked hard, have always come in on time (if not even early) and never left until after everyone else had gone home. You did more than was expected of you and were often complimented on the great work you did. Your boss also has given you an atta boy/atta girl several times over the last few months.
Yet as much as you want a promotion, as much as you absolutely deserve a promotion, you’ve watched as others received them, but not you.
What gives? We’ve listed several possibilities below.
- You never actually asked for a promotion.
That’s right: you need to ask.
Should your boss notice your great work and accomplishments? Sure! But will she? Maybe, but maybe not. After all, she has her own concerns and more than likely is focused mostly on making sure she does her own job well. She needs to be sure she’s keeping her own boss happy (and securing her own promotions). And even if she does notice the great job you’re doing – and certainly appreciates it – she may have thought that if you wanted a promotion, you would have asked for it.
Scenarios where the boss surprises you with a promotion and a fat raise? Those usually happen only in the movies. You need to ask to get.
- Your boss doesn’t think you’re ready.
Your supervisor did notice all your hard work and accomplishments, but when you bring the subject up, your boss tells you she thinks that while you’re on the path to promotion, she doesn’t think you’re quite ready.
Why might she think it’s not your time yet?
- Your boss may feel you’re not enough of a team player. This trait is important if you want a promotion that moves you up to management.
- Your supervisor feels that you don’t handle stressful situations well or that you’re too much of a people pleaser, and wants you to “mature” a bit more.
- And so on.
- You didn’t show your boss the value of a promotion.
Just because you work hard and go the extra mile in your current position in no way qualifies you for a promotion. A promotion always entails more responsibility, more “skin in the game,” so to speak. So what has all that effort provided your boss, in addition to simple hard work?
Did you bring in more clients? Did save the company more money? Did you make the department more efficient? In other words, what tangible results did your work produce?
- There’s no benefit to your boss.
Yes, this appears selfish on her part, but in order to get a promotion, your boss needs to get something out of it. It must be something that benefits her, personally. For example, by promoting you, does a particular goal or project she wants completed get completed because of your particular skills?
If you’ve been working hard, providing terrific and provable value to your employer and have asked for a promotion to no avail, it may be time to move on. Helpmates can help. Take a look at our current job opportunities. Yes, many of our openings are temporary, but many are regular, full-time career positions. Plus, temporary positions often can advance your career.
Contact the Helpmates office nearest you today to apply.
