Get a Promotion with Real HR Tips to Help Your Career

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Want to get a promotion? I’ll bet you do! If you are motivated it’s absolutely possible. Just make sure you aren’t guilty of any of these career busting habits. If you are, have no fear there is plenty of time to clean up and get a promotion asap. 

You’re probably not even aware that you are guilty of these work sins and how they are affecting your career… but I’m here to help enlighten you with some quick career advice.

It’s easier to get a promotion when people like you

I said it, i’s just a fact. These tips will clue you into the things that might be poisoning your promotion possibilities in the office.

Do You Speak Badly About Co-Workers and Get Cliquey?

That’s a no-no. You might gain temporary friends, but you’ll lose trust quickly. 

Instead of speaking poorly about someone, just walk away. It’s easy to get wrapped up in drama but managers absolutely notice where negativity stems from. If negativity is stemming from a few ‘friends’ management will take action to break up the party. If you want to get a promotion you have to be and appear above that.

At work, it’s important to be looked at as an individual that gets along with everyone but not necessarily everyone’s best friend. When promotions arise you want to be viewed as a professional and not someone who made a bunch of besties.

This is especially important if your management is your goal. A leader is a leader, and if your best friend is your coworker, management might be afraid you will harbor a bias later. This might cause it to be harder to get a promotion later. I’m not saying you can’t have office friends, but keep it professional.

Strive to Learn More

Your management team wants to know that you are ambitious. If you’re taking the time to learn more about the job, or the field you work in, it will be noticed. Often times knowledge is infectious, this could even bring new opportunity to the team in the forms of certification. Learning more will set you up for the future. Whether or not you get a promotion at your current job, that extra education will come in handy. Remember to inquire with your HR team about reimbursement for career development.

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To Get a Promotion You Need To Be an Engaged Employee

Opportunities are rarely given to disengaged employees. The employees who are striving to learn and better themselves are next in line to get a promotion. 

Try to find differentiating, positive ways to engage in your work. When a particular task is daunting, consider tackling it first. Management always appreciates a positive attitude above all else, even a solution.

Are You Able to Roll With the Day?

Environments change, it’s a living, breathing workplace. That means corporate, directors and anyone else has precedence over your schedule. Thankfully most workplaces try to keep surprises to a minimum and genuinely respect your time. 

“OMG another meeting are you kidding me?!” …. Yes, another meeting. 

So guess what? That means you need to be flexible. Your lunch can change, your break can be delayed. It’s really not a big deal and you need to roll with the punches. If you can’t roll with the punches your chances at a promotion are slim. Being a dependable and stable employee will gain you valuable long term leverage.

Stop Being Slightly Late

If you are consistently 5 minutes late, your manager is going to wonder why you don’t wake up an extra 5 minutes earlier.

Your job starts at the hour or minute it’s scheduled.

I guarantee you that your coworkers hate it when you’re late and your employer will also find it intolerable. Your tardiness is not going unnoticed and it sets a bad tone in the office.

Be responsible and always be punctual, you can do it! When you’re in line to get a promotion, everything matters. Do you really want to be passed over because you couldn’t make it in on time?

You Don’t Pay Attention During Meetings or Training 

Management will take note of the employees who are engaged and those that are not. Simply bringing a pen and paper to every meeting will automatically show your manager you are there to be engaged. When you don’t show office etiquette and respect in meetings you are seriously damaging your reputation.

Meetings consist of presentations. Not giving a presenter your full attention is rude and the same goes for group meetings. Attention equals respect. You might see your boss everyday, but you still owe them the courtesy of your full attention.

People who present are either terrified to present or super excited to share their knowledge with you. 

Either way not paying attention is either adding to that person’s mortification or potentially crushing them.

We’ve all been in auditoriums where a question is asked by a presenter and no one responds … it’s terribly awkward, right? Wouldn’t it be great if you were your manager’s engaged, shining beacon of hope  standing out in the audience? Strive to be that person. 

Are You Spending Too Much Time On Your Phone or Away From Your Desk? That Will Not Help You Get a Promotion

As employees we are entitled to paid breaks. That means at least one thirty minute break and two fifteen minute breaks.

Quick bathroom breaks, aside your desk or office is where your managers should find you. 

When a manager is actually looking for you, they usually have important information. A message that needs to be conveyed can quickly escalate into frustration if you’re missing.

Remember to keep your screen time to a minimum. Managers definitely take notice of who has their cell phone out under their desk. I promise you are not getting away with sneakiness.

Having a Bad Attitude is One of The Worst Office Etiquette Mistakes You Can Make

Do you have a short fuse at work? It’s probable that your negative energy is being felt by others.

It’s actually possible to like being at work. Everything is a matter of perspective. When you’re constantly unhappy, that’s your cue to move onto another job. 

Whatever it might be, find something that you enjoy about your workplace. Personally I love free coffee and I enjoy bringing in treats for coworkers.

When you have a bad attitude it definitely comes through in more ways than you realize.

Things to avoid having a bad attitude about:

• Extra Training
• Team Building Activities
• Potlucks
• Volunteer Time
• New System implementation

If you are the anchor that weighs the team down negatively, your manager will take notice.

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Do You Represent Yourself Poorly?

When you are in a senior position you are representing the company. In order to get a promotion, management needs to be able to trust that you are representing their company in a positive light.

Representing yourself poorly can happen in several ways:

1. Disorganized, untidy work-space
2. Lack of respect for yourself
3. Professionalism is absent

These things may seem obvious, but a busy month, a deadline, and a stressed out environment can quickly take a toll on any steadfast worker. If you need to step away from a situation remember that’s ok. If you want to get a promotion you need to be the dependable one when the going gets tough.

What Should You Do Instead?

You deserve to work in an environment that makes you feel happy as well as fulfilled. One without the other will eventually lead to feeling defeated.

• Be open to new opportunities
• Strive to learn more about your career
• Take part in career networking 
• Take time to learn your job 
• Don’t give up before exploring all aspects of your company
• Use time in the morning and night wisely to set yourself up for success
• Never stop learning
• Strive to get a promotion and never be stagnant
• Always keep your eyes and ears open 

Having an honest conversation with yourself about your real goals will steer you to what’s most important in your life right now. For many of us it’s our career. When you work hard and are passionate about what you do you will succeed. Follow your heart. 

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I hope that you found these tips to be helpful and enlightening. Office etiquette is important to maintain relationships. It’s difficult to perform at your highest caliber when you are unhappy, but realizing that gives you more power than you know.

In life you are never ever stuck. The next opportunity is right around the corner. It’s important that you foster your own growth with positivity so that when the ultimate opportunity knocks you are ready to take it by storm.

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