Promotion Commotion

By Robert Emmet

Youíve expended blood, sweat and tears in an intellectually stunted role for the prospect of making it to the next level. But, despite your efforts, you get passed over for promotion. Robert Emmet, Head Recruitment Consultant of ADVFN Jobs, explains how all is not lost.

Not everyone is born ambitious and there are few among us who are living prodigies. Apart from the unmitigated forces of luck, good karma and royal privilege, us average mortals must persevere and work hard in roles that may well undermine our abilities and intelligence, before we are even rewarded with promotion.

But what if a colleague whoíd barely been in the company six months gets plucked from the dregs of the corporate barrel into that cushy promotion youíve desperately longing for? As a mere human, youíd probably be feeling undervalued and unrewarded, frustrated and furious. Youíd even be forgiven for deliberating whether to stay or go.

However, think carefully before you react on these negative impulses. There might be numerous factors, perhaps out of your control, which could account for your missed promotion, such as an insufficient budget. And unless you confront your boss with some answers, youíre vulnerable mind will be left to draw up its own inaccurate conclusions.

The next step
The idea of confronting your boss might, at first, seem tantamount to career suicide, but he/she should see the wider picture - that you are keen to work on your weaknesses, build on your skills and move onto roles which fully realise your potential.

Plan what youíre going to say before undergoing a formal discussion about your application with your boss. Stress that while youíve been content in your current job, you now feel ready to graduate onto a more involved role with greater responsibilities, which was why you felt disappointed when you were passed over for promotion. Ask your boss how s/he sees your career progressing, and, likewise, discuss your work aspirations. They in turn should provide practical advice on how you can fulfil these goals.

Remember, this session will be self-revelationary, so prepare to be hit by some candid commentary. Criticism, particularly of a personal nature might prove difficult to swallow, but try to take this constructively rather than to heart. Whether itís a poor application, lack of qualifications, relevant skills or interpersonal manoeuvrability ñ such ineptitudes can be remedied and refined with a little dedication and patience on your part.

Do you lack formal qualifications?

If you entered the job after finishing school, chances are you were recruited for your ability to learn on-the-job and your interpersonal skills rather than for your academic acumen. But with so many jobseekers now holding a higher education qualification, the market is tough for a comparatively under-qualified school leaver.

If you missed out on a promotion because a graduate was given the position, or even if you have a degree but lack the specialist qualification, ask your boss about relevant courses you could take, whether this is fully funded or partially subsidised, and whether youíd be entitled to a paid study-leave. Should you need to embark on independent study, consider whether this is financially and practically viable.

Do you lack technical know-how or do your interpersonal skills let you down?

If your technical skills are under par, ask about in-house training. Most companies are keen to organise an afternoon seminar for employees keen to update or refresh their skills.

You might be a high performer and a diligent employee, but if you lack the confidence, calm and verbal tenacity to manage an entire team, front presentations or remain composed and clear thinking in the face of adversity, chances are the role will go to someone with a more suitable character. However, there are numerous business training courses you can take that will help you refine your communication, organisational and management skills ñ from effective time management to building confidence in public speaking. Again, ask your boss whether such courses are funded by work and consider whether the skills that youíll gain are transferable to other industries or disciplines.

Was your application form poorly completed?

Recruiters and employers despise poorly filled out application forms not to mention gimmicky and badly proofed CVs. You are what you write, and if you submit a less than perfect resume, this will imply that you are slap-dash about presentation, half-hearted about the promotion, prone to making careless mistakes and casual about standards. Tired eyes often miss vital grammatical and typographical errors. Get somebody else to take a look over your application form before you dispatch it ñ a fresh mind can often weed out those subtle mistakes.

If youíre doing a CV, obtain a detailed job description of the position you are applying for and showcase your qualifications, skills and experiences accordingly. You want to show how versatile, adaptable and suitable you are for the new role, whilst also highlighting your keenness for taking on new challenges.

Did you interview badly?

Whether you were ill-prepared, over-anxious or tripped over that typical trick question, youíll have learnt the hard way before perfecting a good interview technique. Everything you do, from the way you walk into the interview room to the trivial things you say when making polite conversation will be mercilessly scrutinised. Of course, itís natural to feel nervous, but you shouldnít let this debilitate your performance.

The key to a good interview is preparation. Interviews are typically unpredictable events, designed to test rigorously whether you can think quickly on your feet. In the interview be aware of your posture and body language; donít slouch. You want to look interested and alert ñ this conveys that you are keen to talk about yourself, what you can offer and how youíd fit into this prospective role. Ask plenty of relevant questions towards the end of the appraisal; not just about the job, but about the department and anything that you donít already know about the company. You want to give the impression that this isnít just your bread and butter, but that you take great pride in working for the company and want to play a significant part in its continued success.

Do I need to look for another job?

Itís easy to feel disgruntled when you get passed over for promotion, especially if youíve expended a lot of time and energy in a seemingly fruitless task. But before you throw in the towel ask yourself this question: could you really derive satisfaction in quitting, knowing you hadnít exhausted all avenues first? If you messed up the opportunity due to any of the abovementioned, a great lesson is learned. If you really want a promotion, then you must work on the weakness that failed you in the first place. Making silly mistakes can be incredibly frustrating, but will encourage you to be super vigilant and meticulous next time round.

Is there anything else I can do get a fast-track promotion?

Use your initiative. Preparing for a promotion neednít happen a week before the appraisal. Start taking a more active role in the company now by getting involved in ongoing projects. This is an impressive way of demonstrating that your interests in the company are genuine and that you revel at the prospect of new challenges. Also, start developing a network of internal contacts within and outside of the department ñ they could alert you to other openings within the company. Lastly, try doing your own PR by attending industry social events; rub shoulders with important people and get your face recognised. It could eventually lead to good business relationships with other companies within the sector that will either benefit you or the company you represent.

Robert Emmet is Head Recruitment Consultant at ADVFN Jobs (www.advfnjobs.com)