How to Get a Promotion
To get a promotion, go to work dressed like people who are higher up in the company so you'll be taken more seriously. Additionally, try to always show up on time, and stay late occasionally if you need to meet a deadline. You should also try to make yourself valuable by doing more than what's expected of you. For example, you could volunteer for new projects, or ask your boss if there's anything you can do to lighten their load. When you're ready to ask for a promotion, tell your boss specifically what you want, and explain why you think you deserve it.
Set a goal for your career and work towards that goal. Knowing where you eventually want to end up will help you identify when an open position would be a good fit for you. For instance, if you hope to one day be the head of your company's marketing department, you might apply for a management position in your department that allows you to work closely with the promotions team. Keep a positive attitude at work. Showing up to work in a bad mood every day could make your boss think you won't be able to handle the pressure of more responsibility. Focus on what you enjoy about your job, and try to portray that positive attitude to others. Even if you're having a bad day, try not to complain. Instead of talking about what's bothering you, keep your conversations professional whenever possible. Look for solutions to problems rather than complaining to your boss. By looking for possible solutions to a problem, you will show that you are a problem solver, which may make you seem more worthy of a promotion. If you still feel bad at the end of the day, meet a friend for coffee before you go home, or stop by your favorite park for some fresh air. Remember that there's more to life than work. Avoid office gossip and politics. Getting involved in a feud over who's supposed to replace the coffee filters will only make you seem negative and unprofessional. If you hear people gossiping, try to find something to do somewhere else, or at least stay out of the conversation. If you end up getting drawn into a conversation about someone else, try to say something nice about them or offer a possible solution. This will help other people to see you as someone who sees the best in other people and who promotes honesty and transparency in the workplace. For example, you might say something like, "I'm sorry that you feel he attacked you in that meeting. He can be blunt, but his feedback is usually quite insightful. Since it seems to have bothered you, have you considered scheduling a meeting with him to discuss how you feel and how you'd prefer to receive feedback?" Dress professionally to get the job you want. Although dress codes can vary between industries, you should always show up to work looking neat and presentable. Try to emulate the appearance of the higher-ups in your company. Your appearance at work tells your managers a lot about how seriously you take your job. For instance, if your managers always wear button-down shirts, you could start working those into your wardrobe. No matter what you wear to work, make sure you always keep yourself neat. Comb your hair before you go to work, make sure your clothes are clean and free from wrinkles, and tuck in your shirt. Wait until the time is right. Even if you have a great attitude and make yourself indispensable at work, it might take a while for you to get promoted. Instead of applying for every position that comes up, wait until you see an opportunity that is a good match for your skills and experience. Also, make sure that you time your request for a raise or promotion so that it is in line with your company's cycle for doing these things. Asking for a raise or promotion outside of your company's cycle may make you seem unprofessional. Move to another company if yours doesn't have advancement opportunities. If you're working in a small business with employees who have all been there for 15 years, you may not get the opportunity to move up anytime soon. If that's the case and you really want a better position, you might want to look for a new job. If you work for a large company, there may be opportunities to move up sooner, such as by moving to a different group that is owned by the same corporation or moving to a different department of the company. Go above and beyond in your current position. You can't just expect to turn in your work every day and get a promotion. Jobs today are highly competitive, so you need to focus on doing your best at everything you do, then look for opportunities to go above and beyond to make yourself stand out. To ensure that you are exceeding the expectations, learn what the expectations are for the job you want. It may also be helpful to have an honest conversation with your boss about your performance. Keep in mind that you will not be promoted for simply meeting the expectations of your current job. You will need to show that you consistently go above and beyond those expectations. Help your boss with their work if you can. Ask if there's anything you can do to lighten your boss's work load, and try to think of additional tasks you can take on that will help the department as a whole. You can also suggest tasks and projects that you can take over on an ongoing basis. This will show that you are proactive. Don't try to do your boss's job for them. Your boss might think you are trying to undermine them, which could hurt your chances of getting a promotion later on. Avoid constantly asking your boss for things to do because this can result in more work for your boss, which will be frustrating for them. Enroll in relevant college classes part-time. Taking college courses on the side can show your bosses that you are committed to continuing to grow. Take classes that are relevant to the work you do, as well as the position you hope to eventually attain. If you already have a college degree, you could enroll part-time in graduate school if you think a master's degree would help you advance your career. Look into online degree programs as well. You may even be able to earn an online certification or nano-degree to help you advance your career. Some good options for online courses include Udemy, Udacity, Coursera, and Edx. Volunteer for projects. Show your bosses that you are willing to take on extra work by signing up for different projects within your department. Projects require teamwork, so this is a great way to demonstrate that you are good at working with others. Know your limits. Don't overextend yourself, or the quality of your work will suffer. Show up on time and stay late when necessary. If you always leave work early on Fridays or you regularly clock in 5 minutes late, your bosses will know about it. Instead, try to get to work a little early every day so that you will be on time, and be willing to stay late if you need to finish an important project. Keep in mind that coming in early and staying late won't matter if you are not getting quality work done during these hours. Ask for feedback from your boss and tell them about your goals. If your manager knows that you are interested in eventually moving up within the company, they can help give you guidance on how to do your job more effectively. Ask about areas where you can improve, and look for opportunities to show that you are making progress. Don't brag too much, but be sure to mention your successes to your boss so they know when you're doing a good job. You may also consider asking your boss to connect you with a mentor. This may be someone in a position you hope to hold one day or someone who has more experience than you and who will help to guide you as you work towards your goals. Identify market gaps where your company can grow. Read trade publications to stay informed about how your industry is growing. Monitor your competitors and be the first to let your boss and coworkers know about any new developments, such as a new product or campaign. If you see a potential need in the market that your company can fill, bring it to the attention to your higher-ups. If you come up with an idea that helps your company grow, be sure to mention it when you ask for a promotion. Prepare your case for why you deserve a promotion. Taking the time to write down the specific reasons why you deserve a promotion can help you when you make your request. List your accomplishments, share examples of how your performance is exceeding expectations, and note any financial impact you have made on the company. Focus on facts that you can back up with figures. If you recently closed on a big sale or you streamlined a process that saved your company a lot of money, for instance, include the specific numbers involved in those deals to demonstrate your contribution to the company. Be sure to include any extra responsibilities that you have taken on, and discuss how you handled them in order show that you're ready for more responsibility. Rehearse what you will say. Your request for a promotion should be streamlined and persuasive. Practice what you plan to say over and over again until it sounds natural. Ask a close friend to listen to you make the request and to give you feedback on it. Use the feedback to help you improve your speaking points. Make a lateral move if you need to get more experience. Sometimes it can be helpful to move to another position of equal rank within your organization before you attempt to move up. This will give you a more complete understanding of how things work within the company, which may give you an edge when you ask for a promotion. Ask your boss for a promotion in the late morning or early afternoon. Don't approach your boss about a promotion when they're going to lunch or are getting ready to leave for the day. Schedule a meeting for a slower time of day so you will have your boss's undivided attention. If your boss is having a particularly bad day, reschedule the meeting. It's better to wait a little longer in exchange for a better chance at success. Be specific about what you’re asking for. Now is not the time to be bashful. Tell your boss exactly which position you have in mind, then use the facts you gathered to back up the reasons why you deserve to be promoted to that spot. If you want to be given a specific job title, make sure to mention that too. If you're asking for a raise, let your boss know the dollar amount you have in mind, and show them exactly how you came to that figure. Keep in mind that you should be willing to negotiate. Ask respectfully. Keep in mind that your boss has other concerns besides your career goals, and it's their job to decide who will be the best fit for a specific position. You don't want to suck up too much, but be respectful of their time and their decision. Don't complain or compare yourself to other employees, and do not threaten to leave if your request is denied. Don’t give up if you don’t succeed right away. If your boss declines to give you a promotion, ask if there is anything you can do to improve your work performance. Focus on those things until another position becomes available, then try for the promotion again. Also, make sure that you are consistently working to improve your performance and letting your boss know about your accomplishments. Showing that you are consistent by giving your boss these types of updates will help to bolster your chances of earning a promotion in the future. 
Set a goal for your career and work towards that goal. Keep a positive attitude at work. Avoid office gossip and politics. Dress professionally to get the job you want. Wait until the time is right. Move to another company if yours doesn't have advancement opportunities. Go above and beyond in your current position. Help your boss with their work if you can. Enroll in relevant college classes part-time. Volunteer for projects. Show up on time and stay late when necessary. Ask for feedback from your boss and tell them about your goals. Identify market gaps where your company can grow. Prepare your case for why you deserve a promotion. Rehearse what you will say. Make a lateral move if you need to get more experience. Ask your boss for a promotion in the late morning or early afternoon. Be specific about what you’re asking for. Ask respectfully. Don’t give up if you don’t succeed right away. 