Not everyone wants to advance at a rapid rate in business life, but most people know that advancement often means better remuneration, and sometimes, not necessarily more work. The implication in being paid more is that you’re more responsible, but after time and experience this can entirely feel within your grasp.
It can feel frustrating, then, to reach a certain level of capability or even a specific age, and believe you’re continually passed over for promotion. This could be down to various factors, of course, sometimes out of your control. It may be that the company simply doesn’t have room to promote. Perhaps the people you’ve competed against have been unusually competitive and capable. Maybe someone in management just doesn’t appreciate you as well as they could.
Regardless, it’s always best to try and take what we have and do something positive with it, that is not feeling bitter, but considering a better path forward. In this post, we’ll help with some insights along those lines, perhaps helping you gain the promotion you deserve:
Track your achievements consistently
Ultimately, you need to be your own biggest fan and track everything great you do at work. Don’t assume your manager remembers that huge project you finished months ago, because they have their own responsibilities to worry about. It’s helpful to create a simple document where you log all your accomplishments as they happen throughout the year, even if they’re minimal, they can be proof that you’re doing well.
Remember, always write down the actual positive impact you had, not just the task itself, but still use real numbers whenever possible to show how much money you saved or how much efficiency you helped improve for others. Such a clear history makes it simple to build an undeniable case when you ask for that well-deserved promotion or raise.
Explore advancement opportunities elsewhere
If you feel like your current company has totally stalled your progress and there’s no room to move up right now, you should start quietly exploring options outside the business. Staying somewhere you aren’t valued won’t help your career grow, so looking elsewhere is probably the best way to advance in your field and also gain a better pay rise. Just keep your resume updated and check job boards to see what other roles are paying and what skills they require today.
Interviewing generally also gives you market insights and shows you what your true worth is to the wider industry, and sometimes a fresh start is the fastest path to better pay and more responsibility than waiting around where you are.
Consider additional educational programs
If you want to rejuvenate your career again, finding new skills or earn a relevant certification is going to help. If you keep getting passed over for promotion, now might be the time to figure out what skills the promoted people have that you currently lack in your professional toolkit. Maybe it’ll inspire you to use online school for a master of cybersecurity, or to gain relevant certificates. At the very least, you can prove reinvestment in yourself, or impress someone new thanks to it.
With this advice, we hope you can finally get past a career plateau.
