Ways to Prepare for a Promotion

If you're looking to advance in your company, learn how to prepare for your next interview.

While it might be nerve-racking to think about approaching your boss about a promotion, raise, or something else you want, going into it prepared will help ease that anxiety. Rather than waiting for an annual review and crossing your fingers you get that promotion, be bold and ask for it yourself!

Forbes Magazine highlighted a survey conducted on American employees where 8% of employees have not received a promotion in 5 years with 14% never having received one (Dewan, 2024). There's no time like the present; read on and prepare yourself for a promotion.

1. Know Your Worth. How are you contributing to your company's bottom line? What are all the accomplishments you've achieved since you started with the company? Have you saved your company money or completed a big project outside of your normal responsibilities? These are all questions that would help influence your boss's decision to promote you. Forbes Magazine mentions how "Being able to establish clear, measurable goals for yourself and consistently exceeding them not only demonstrates your commitment to the job but also emphasizes your ability to deliver results." (Dewan, 2024). If you're not a list maker, you should become one—compile a list of your goals and accomplishments in your current role.

   
   

   An article from Harvard Business Review highlights the importance of being able to advocate for yourself and promote yourself to your boss. This can be scary, since you are putting yourself in a vulnerable position, but at the end of the day, without directly asking for a promotion, you're not likely to get it (Knight, 2018).

   
   

2. Demonstrate How Your Accomplishments Relate to the New Position. Forbes suggests mirroring the role you want to have and doing the work without being asked. If you can already perform some of the requirements of the new position, that means less training your boss would have to do (Dewan, 2024). How do your current accomplishments mirror the position you're hoping to get?

   
   

   Alternatively, if your current role does not include any of the responsibilities of the new role, then do it anyways without being told! Accomplishing additional tasks will prove to your boss that you have the initiative, drive, and leadership skills necessary to take on more responsibilities (Dewan, 2025).

   
   

3. Be Ready to Negotiate. According to Harvard Business Review, reflecting on what you truly want is the first step, so you know exactly what to ask for. If you've asked for a raise, how much are you asking for? Look at similar jobs in your area and what they offer, while taking into consideration your longevity with the company. If your company is unable to approve a raise at the moment, there are still other things you could negotiate for (more PTO, a hybrid position for more work-life balance, etc.).

   
   

   The same goes for a promotion—is it more responsibility, money, or something else you want? Whatever it is, you should be prepared to negotiate if your boss agrees, whether that's a new salary, benefits, work schedule, etc. This shows that you have truly done your research and are taking this seriously and not just winging it (Knight, 2018).

   
   

4. Be Confident and Ask. After you've created your list of your accomplishments and how it relates to the new role, and reflected on what you'll be asking for, it's time to approach your boss. Having the confidence to know your worth and ask for a raise or promotion SHOWS your boss that you are ready. Harvard Business Review mentions the importance of considering timing, and trying to align your ask right after something good has happened to the company. You may never feel "ready," but capitalizing on a good mood or energy never hurts (Knight, 2018).

   
   

   Have you ever asked for a promotion? If so, tell us how it went in a comment below!

   
   

   Literature Cited

   Dewan, Sho. (2024, March 14). 4 Ways to Show Your Manager You're Ready for a Promotion. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/shodewan/2024/03/15/4-ways-to-show-your-manager-youre-ready-for-a-promotion/

   
   

   Knight, Rebecca. (2018, January 29). How to Ask for a Promotion. Harard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/01/how-to-ask-for-a-promotion

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