20 Tips for Asking for a Promotion

​A potential client asked me, “With the high cost of living, my paycheck isn’t stretching as far as it once did. I need a pay raise that outpaces the rate of inflation. The only way to make more money where I work is to get a promotion. Do you have any advice on how to ask my boss for a promotion?” I brainstormed 20 ways to prepare for a conversation with your supervisor.

20 Tips for Asking for a Promotion

1. Start with prayer. Ask for and listen to God’s guidance to direct your career path. Then work diligently, being faithful even with the small tasks you’ve been given.
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2. Set clear and realistic goals. Reflect on what you want. What position are you aiming for? What is the in-demand skill that’s needed at the next level? What professional development do you need to complete? Do you have the necessary degree or certification? By what date do you want to be promoted? Create an individual development plan for yourself and work towards attaining your goals.
   
   
3. Understand the promotion process in your company. What are the existing norms for how career advancement decisions are made? Do you meet tenure requirements to be considered for the role? Be realistic. If the company requires that you must have 3 years of employment with the company or must have a certain certification to advance to the next level, and you’ve only been there 10 months and have not taken the certification course or passed the certification exam, then you may not be eligible for promotion at the end of your first year of employment.
   
   
4. Think about how your promotion aligns with the objectives of the organization. Set news alerts for c-suite officers and other senior leaders in your company. Read what they are saying. Study quarterly and annual financial reports. Research the industry, the market, and the competitors. The more in-tune you are with the direction the company is going, the better.
   
   
5. Seek mentorship and sponsorship. Align yourself with mentors who are interested in seeing you grow professionally. Good mentors are compassionate, honest, and successful in their work.
   
   Doris Braun, CEO of Leadership Solutions for Women says, “Having a sponsor within your organization, a person who is senior to you who says the right things about you to their peers when you are not in the room, can help you get assigned to visible projects, which will allow you to interact with people who are in a position to promote you.”
   
   
6. Set the stage. The goal is for your supervisor and senior leadership to notice that you are a smart, ambitious person who deserves a promotion because you have much to offer in helping the company meet its short-term and long-term goals and objectives. Be a good listener. Take notes. Add value to group meetings.
   
   
7. Guard your words and who you listen to. Actions speak louder than words. As Steve Martin says, “Be so good that they can’t ignore you.” Also, keep a polite distance from people who are caught up in office drama, gossiping, and negative outlooks. These people will drag you down and hurt your reputation. Hang out with positive, motivated coworkers. Show that you are happy at work. Don’t complain about tasks or talk badly about peers or supervisors. This can derail your chances for promotion. 
   
   
8. Keep your supervisor up-to-date on your work activities. Send memos, emails, and voicemails (whichever communication method they prefer). Be reliable. Make sure you meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work. 
   
   If you have certain benchmarks to hit, let your supervisor know you are on track to bring the project in on time and within budget. If the scope of the project has changed and you are not on track to complete the project, be proactive in communicating obstacles, and pitch solutions. This will show your boss you are a good communicator, you are trustworthy, and you are a proactive problem solver.
   
   
9. Keep a career journal. Don’t depend on your memory. Write down your weekly wins. Prepare a one- or two-page memo outlining your awards and achievements. Summarize your monthly, quarterly, and yearly contributions. Build a compelling case for why you deserve to move up. Share concrete metrics of your impact and financial outcomes. 
   
   
10. Choose the right time to ask for a promotion. Sabina Nawaz, a global CEO coach, advises the week after a round of layoffs or the day the company loses a major client would be poor timing, whereas the week after you’ve closed a lucrative new deal or your company announces a solid earning’s quarter would be optimal timing. When the company has high employee turnover, show initiative, roll up your sleeves, and do whatever work needs to be done to stabilize the organization.
    
    
11. Schedule a meeting. Once you’ve established yourself as a high-achiever, it’s time to plan for the conversation with your boss about a promotion. Don't just drop in on your boss. Schedule a meeting in advance, and make it clear that you want to discuss your future with the company. Be mindful of your supervisor’s availability and be intentional about giving your supervisor time to prepare for the conversation.
    
    
12. Have the promotion conversation: Come to the meeting with a clear idea of what you want to say and what you want to achieve. The actual meeting will be less stressful and more productive if you are prepared and have evidence to support your request. Be specific about what you want, whether it's a higher salary, a new title, or more responsibilities.
    
    
13. Know your worth. Research the average salary for your position and be prepared to make a business case for why you deserve a promotion. Emphasize what’s in it for them, not what’s in it for you. Make a quick pitch about your performance. Present data from your career journal. Share highlights of your recent accomplishments and how you have contributed to the company's success. 
    
    Outline ways you can add more value by being promoted to a higher level. Be positive and enthusiastic. Your supervisor will appreciate your motivation and energy. For example, if you want to be promoted from a client-facing role to a business analyst/process improvement role, your first-hand experience working with clients will help you succeed in your new role, improve the customer experience, and retain more customers.
    
    
14. Politely and confidently, ask for a promotion or raise. Be direct. Ask your supervisor, “Can I count on your support to help me advance within the company and make my promotion a reality?”
    
    
15. Be open to feedback and suggestions. Accept constructive criticism graciously, knowing your supervisor’s feedback will help you grow professionally and advance your career.
    
    
16. Be patient. Don't expect an immediate answer. Your boss may need time to consider your request for a promotion and work through the proper HR channels to make it happen. Ask your supervisor when you should follow up with them.
    
    
17. Be flexible. Be open to compromise and willing to negotiate. Maybe the position doesn’t exist now, but you want to create a new role doing specific tasks. Pitch your ideas and connect the new role to the company’s broader strategic goals.
    
    Maybe you want a 10% raise and the company is only offering a 5% raise. Perhaps you could negotiate a bonus if certain strategic goals are met within 6 months. Be aware that pay structures and raises may have been established companywide, so your direct supervisor may not have the power to change that.
    
    
18. Consider who your successor might be and how to champion that coworker. This shows you are a forward-thinking person who is willing to mentor and coach someone to do your current job so they can fill your shoes after you are promoted.
    
    
19. If you don't get the promotion, keep working hard. Continue to demonstrate your value to the company. Even if you decide to launch a job search, continue to give your personal best each day. Your hard work will not go unnoticed.
    
    
20. Remember that self-promotion is necessary for career advancement. Advocating for yourself is an important communication skill to develop.

I hope you found these tips helpful. If you'd like more information about 1:1 career coaching, click here.