Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
#16
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
I think the culture of the company makes a huge difference as to what approach you should take.
It took me years to get where I am today in this company but I now make (literally) more than double what my starting salary was.
Some of the things that I think made all of the difference for me:
1. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I started really going out of my way to out-dress and out-groom management. So when the boss looked at me, the visual he got was of somebody more accomplished than those who were supposedly my superiors.
2. Start doing the more advanced work before you are actually being paid to do the work. Basically, I took the initiative before I had any promise of being rewarded. This is risky and, yes, I was taken advantage of for a couple of years before it paid off.
3. Let them know you are interested in more challenges (and money) before actually putting them on the spot. If you put them on the spot before they're ready to make a decision, or if they have something/somebody else in mind, the kneejerk reaction will always be "no". Plant the seed and later when they promote you they'll think that it was all their idea.
4. Do the things that nobody else is willing to do.
5. Play the long game. Strategery. ...
It took me years to get where I am today in this company but I now make (literally) more than double what my starting salary was.
Some of the things that I think made all of the difference for me:
1. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I started really going out of my way to out-dress and out-groom management. So when the boss looked at me, the visual he got was of somebody more accomplished than those who were supposedly my superiors.
2. Start doing the more advanced work before you are actually being paid to do the work. Basically, I took the initiative before I had any promise of being rewarded. This is risky and, yes, I was taken advantage of for a couple of years before it paid off.
3. Let them know you are interested in more challenges (and money) before actually putting them on the spot. If you put them on the spot before they're ready to make a decision, or if they have something/somebody else in mind, the kneejerk reaction will always be "no". Plant the seed and later when they promote you they'll think that it was all their idea.
4. Do the things that nobody else is willing to do.
5. Play the long game. Strategery. ...
Recently one of my managers noted that I was neither titled nor remunerated comparably with my "peers", despite in some cases having more experience. He told me he would work to get me a promotion. I am not holding my breath.
ETA - my experience of your point 4 is that the more you do that other people won't do, the more indispensable you make yourself in the role you currently have. Much I have enjoyed pursuing that sort of strategy in multiple jobs throughout my career, it to my chagrin that the people who seem to get promoted are the ones who don't get bogged down in the minutiae of their current role but who spend their time demonstrating their suitability for the role they desire while largely ignoring the job that they are supposed to be doing.
One of my colleagues almost entirely ignored a significant project that he was tasked with completing, repeatedly assuring his immediate manager that the project was on target for completion, when in fact here had been almost no progress at all. Instead sucked up to a manager two or three tiers higher up the corporate tree. He deserved to have been fired for the mess he left, which blew up in the face of his immediate manager, and reduced one of his peers to tears when the finger of blame was pointed at her. Meanwhile, before the mess became apparent, he was plucked out and given a plumb assignment in another office, where he proceeded to irritate, alienate, and thoroughly p裏-off pretty much everyone he came into contact with. But none of this prevented him returning a year later to his previous location to be given an entire team to manage on the basis of his "successes" In fairness he seems to be more useful at this more senior level where he can encourage others and has less actual hands-on work to do himself.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jun 21st 2017 at 3:14 am.
#17
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
One of my colleagues almost entirely ignored a significant project that he was tasked with completing, repeatedly assuring his immediate manager that the project was on target for completion, when in fact here had been almost no progress at all. Instead sucked up to a manager two or three tiers higher up the corporate tree. He deserved to have been fired for the mess he left, which blew up in the face of his immediate manager, and reduced one of his peers to tears when the finger of blame was pointed at her. Meanwhile, before the mess became apparent, he was plucked out and given a plumb assignment in another office, where he proceeded to irritate, alienate, and thoroughly p裏-off pretty much everyone he came into contact with. But none of this prevented him returning a year later to his previous location to be given an entire team to manage on the basis of his "successes" In fairness he seems to be more useful at this more senior level where he can encourage others and has less actual hands-on work to do himself.
Another voice added to the chorus of "know your culture and your industry" but it does seem far more normal and acceptable to be openly ambitious in the US than in the UK and to say that you want a promotion and pay rise. The only other comment I can add over and above the good stuff on this thread is to look at colleagues who have recently been promoted and see what they did to get there and if any of that could apply to you.
#18
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
J-
Some more thoughts.
Try to figure out why you haven't already been offered the job. Think of it from the point of view of your boss. Not to get too esoteric but --- Sometimes you have to put yourself inside their head. Is it about budget, or maybe your boss is a procrastinator, maybe she likes you in your current position etc etc.
One of the women I work with has made her way up by swallowing up other positions. Several times, when somebody leaves or moves elsewhere in the company, she has taken over their work for big money but yet it's still less than what it would cost them to hire somebody. Of course, this is all laughable because, before she started doing that, we all knew they did **** all. Your mileage may vary.
FWIW - I like the idea of a semi-formal email. The one that I sent, when I got turned down , was really more like a job application or a pitch for the job. I didn't get too wordy but I went into detail about why I was qualified blah blah blah. It is a completely acceptable format in this age and I think it gives both parties a graceful way to escape any awkwardness.
Some more thoughts.
Try to figure out why you haven't already been offered the job. Think of it from the point of view of your boss. Not to get too esoteric but --- Sometimes you have to put yourself inside their head. Is it about budget, or maybe your boss is a procrastinator, maybe she likes you in your current position etc etc.
One of the women I work with has made her way up by swallowing up other positions. Several times, when somebody leaves or moves elsewhere in the company, she has taken over their work for big money but yet it's still less than what it would cost them to hire somebody. Of course, this is all laughable because, before she started doing that, we all knew they did **** all. Your mileage may vary.
FWIW - I like the idea of a semi-formal email. The one that I sent, when I got turned down , was really more like a job application or a pitch for the job. I didn't get too wordy but I went into detail about why I was qualified blah blah blah. It is a completely acceptable format in this age and I think it gives both parties a graceful way to escape any awkwardness.
To be clear, I am not going for a different or open position. Rather, I am going for a grade bump in the position I have (from Bottle Washer to Senior Bottle Washer, let's say) due to increased and higher-level responsibilities I have been taking on/am about to take on. As far as I can tell, this kind of promotion is given mostly only when someone agitates for it. So if I don't push myself forward it won't happen, much as the English in me wants to just do good work and modestly wait to be noticed.
I work for a charity, so I have to be a little careful about talking about the whole "I want to make more money" thing, although everybody knows what these things are really about. But the time is now due to these other shifts I mentioned.
It took me almost three years and three attempts to get into the head office - what I lack in knowledge and ability I make up for in obstinacy.
#19
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
Managing up.....
#20
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
Seems most of this advice is mostly geared towards office type jobs?
#21
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
I have been in some companies where sleeping with the boss can get you promoted, but that is not something I would do.
#23
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
I think this is just what happens. Sometimes its more to do with your golf handicap than how good you are at your job. Sometimes it's dependent on how believable the BS you give your boss is. Some bosses are smarter than others.
Last edited by mrken30; Jun 21st 2017 at 5:27 pm.
#24
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
As a people manager, one of the easiest ways to allow me to promote you is by starting to do the job already. It makes justifying the promotion so much easier to the VP who signs off any promotion.
#25
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
I quite like the idea of the email too, but want to be sure it is read and acted upon.
To be clear, I am not going for a different or open position. Rather, I am going for a grade bump in the position I have (from Bottle Washer to Senior Bottle Washer, let's say) due to increased and higher-level responsibilities I have been taking on/am about to take on. As far as I can tell, this kind of promotion is given mostly only when someone agitates for it. So if I don't push myself forward it won't happen, much as the English in me wants to just do good work and modestly wait to be noticed.
I work for a charity, so I have to be a little careful about talking about the whole "I want to make more money" thing, although everybody knows what these things are really about. But the time is now due to these other shifts I mentioned.
It took me almost three years and three attempts to get into the head office - what I lack in knowledge and ability I make up for in obstinacy.
To be clear, I am not going for a different or open position. Rather, I am going for a grade bump in the position I have (from Bottle Washer to Senior Bottle Washer, let's say) due to increased and higher-level responsibilities I have been taking on/am about to take on. As far as I can tell, this kind of promotion is given mostly only when someone agitates for it. So if I don't push myself forward it won't happen, much as the English in me wants to just do good work and modestly wait to be noticed.
I work for a charity, so I have to be a little careful about talking about the whole "I want to make more money" thing, although everybody knows what these things are really about. But the time is now due to these other shifts I mentioned.
It took me almost three years and three attempts to get into the head office - what I lack in knowledge and ability I make up for in obstinacy.
How comfortable are you with your boss? How often do you see her? Do you have reason to believe she would ignore an email and/or simply never respond or act upon it?
#26
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
Right. Despite what everybody else is saying about their particular situations (again --- culture and environment dictate which approach should be taken) it sounds like you and I work in similar environments. Which means that we have to create these opportunities for ourselves.
How comfortable are you with your boss? How often do you see her? Do you have reason to believe she would ignore an email and/or simply never respond or act upon it?
How comfortable are you with your boss? How often do you see her? Do you have reason to believe she would ignore an email and/or simply never respond or act upon it?
- Email and leave a printed copy of it on her desk (along with my old and self-written new job desc.) Follow up method tbd
I don't think I can/should do it all in person since that puts her on the spot. My hope is that she will consult HR, where I have somewhat seeded the ground already (strategery).
#27
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
She's relatively new and an unknown (my boss, that is). She has only become my boss due to someone else getting the boot. However, I am clear that an email alone will not do it so my options seem to be:
I don't think I can/should do it all in person since that puts her on the spot. My hope is that she will consult HR, where I have somewhat seeded the ground already (strategery).
- Email and leave a printed copy of it on her desk (along with my old and self-written new job desc.) Follow up method tbd
I don't think I can/should do it all in person since that puts her on the spot. My hope is that she will consult HR, where I have somewhat seeded the ground already (strategery).
#29
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
Good luck to you.
#30
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Asking for a promotion in the US workplace
I can think of places I have worked where it was nigh on impossible to be promoted internally, but if you left you could come back at a much higher level. Jobs were advertised internally but you know that the beneficiary was lined up.
Others where it was expected that most vacancies would be filled internally and only if that was not possible would external candidates be considered.
So depends.
Others where it was expected that most vacancies would be filled internally and only if that was not possible would external candidates be considered.
So depends.