Let’s face it – we all feel passed over occasionally. Even the most accomplished professional can have jealousy of other people’s accomplishments. However, if you feel this way almost every year when promotions are being announced at work, or if it seems like you are constantly being ignored when new leadership projects come up, it is probably time to reflect on how to find new ways to achieve career advancement. While it may be true that you are not getting the opportunities you want, sometimes it is easier to sit back and complain than to devise a plan to change things for the better. Remember that anything you want is worth fighting for, and doing what is easiest is not what is best most of the time.
How to Manage Missed Opportunities for Career Advancement
Joe worked at a large company for ten years and never got promoted. He showed up to work on time, carried his weight by doing his work, and was a team player. He was highly dependable and did his best not to complain about difficult coworkers or take on too much work.
When Joe came to my coaching practice, he was frustrated because he felt he was being passed over for management opportunities at the company. He said he witnessed several people get promoted from within his department to team leads while he worked at this company. There were also many people he saw hired from outside the company to be managers in his department. At work, Joe’s manager changed multiple times, and he said was never tapped on the shoulder to lead projects or to be considered for these open team lead or management roles in his department. No matter what Joe did, he could not figure out why this was the case.
Joe was experiencing a widespread grievance that I see as a career coach. First, we began working on a career advancement plan with self-discovery, confidence building, and goal setting. One day in a session Joe was going on about missing leadership opportunities while others seemed to have no problem getting them. I asked Joe a question that became a catalyst for his career. “Joe, did your manager know you wanted to be a manager?” Joe replied, “Why wouldn’t they know”, and I asked, “have you told them that directly?” Joe said, “no, I always assumed they understood that”. After that, Joe met with his manager regularly and told them what he wanted in career advancement. Within six months, Joe started a job search and landed a new management role with more pay.
If you are like Joe and want to take on a better role at work or even find a new role at a new company, you must speak up. Do not assume your manager knows things about your career goals unless you explicitly tell them. This may seem counterintuitive in a world where we always judge one another and assume we know things about others. The reality is, your manager only knows what you share with them. They will not tell you to apply for a lead role or even promote you without some kind of conversation that you are looking for that type of advancement. If you are ready to change how you are perceived, you must drive this yourself by starting conversations about what you want.
Now that you understand what it takes to get what you want, you are in the right place to begin your journey. Before starting, I highly recommend you consider investing in a career coach if you can afford to, especially in the beginning. The rewards of hiring someone will be beyond measure, and the process will be much smoother if you do. A career coach can help guide you throughout the process, give you much-needed feedback, and help with challenges and goals.
In the meantime, you can get started changing your career advancement path. This article will focus on some high-level things you can do quickly to advance your career. Most people seeking career advancement begin to utilize on-the-job training, learn new skills, get a certification, or apply for a new role.
Remember that opportunities to advance at work may manifest in various ways, which can differ for everyone. Some examples of different ways to attain advancement at work are a job promotion, specialty training for a specific position that could help, or a single assignment with increased responsibility. One of the worst things you can do is compare your career path to someone else’s. Each individual’s career path and accomplishments are different because even if we work at the same company, we all have our own experiences. The more time you work on your career advancement plan, the more support you gain, and the better off you will be.
Five Steps to Start Career Advancement Today
Self-Discovery: First, is the process of self-discovery. Self-discovery is a way to understand what you are looking for in your current season at work. This is how you define your career goals. There is no shortcut to doing this. Be patient with yourself and respect the process. Invest in yourself and your career will improve over time.
Next, take some time to ask yourself the following questions (write down your answers):
- In my current role, where do I see myself headed?
- Where do I want to be in one year?
- Can I achieve this goal in my current role or do I need to find a new role?
- Who can help me achieve this goal?
- What are my strengths and weaknesses?
As you continue to build upon your newfound self-knowledge, you will see a career advancement plan forming. Now, Take a moment to ask yourself these questions (write down your answers):
- Have I told my current manager that I want to advance?
- Do I have a career advancement plan I am working on with management?
- What is getting in the way of discussing career advancement with my manager?
- Are there any open or upcoming opportunities for me to pursue advancement at work?
- Am I meeting regularly with my manager or a mentor?
When you gain clarity about what inspires you in your work life, it will help you create a personal roadmap that leads to workplace success. As an added bonus, you may uncover an escape route if you find yourself in an unfulfilling job. Of course, once you identify your career goals, share them with others and receive their feedback. Feedback is essential to growth with infinite value when you include those who may impact your planned journey.
Know Your Options: Research your company and industry to uncover all your options for advancement. Talk to your HR representative, recruiters, and network with other professionals in your industry. Have a good understanding of what it takes to get to the next level. Do you need to acquire skills, and become certified, or do you need leadership experience? Knowing this will help you level the playing field with other professionals you may be competing with for a new role. Remember that advancement does not always mean moving up.
Sometimes a lateral move within your company or industry offers opportunities to do something new. This makes sense for those working in a position with no direct advancement path available. As you discover your way, pay close attention to the details and assess what works best for your stage in life and career.
Strengthen Your Networking Skills: You can never have too many connections when it comes to networking. If you do not have a LinkedIn profile, you should look into creating one. Those who know how to market themselves have valuable skills at every career stage. Attending a mixture of in-person and online networking events will help new colleagues and business leaders recognize you and give you a chance to demonstrate your work ethic, knowledge, and skills. Try to build connections with other professionals inside and outside your specialty. Colleagues and associates can be excellent resources when it comes to discovering the latest job or research openings.
Reveal Your Confidence: Don’t wait until you are in your dream role to play the part. There is no better way to be hired as a leader tomorrow than to act like a leader today. There is nothing more attractive than confidence, especially at work. Take the initiative and consider every interaction as a chance to demonstrate your honesty and integrity. Self-confidence is a critical component for others to believe in you and value what you offer. Dress for success each day. When you look and feel put together, it can help with confidence levels which can go a long way in encouraging others to take you seriously.
Request New Responsibilities: Remember that no one will know what you want unless you tell them. Meet with your boss and let them know you have the bandwidth to take on new responsibilities and want more challenging projects and tasks. Share your career advancement plan with them so they are clear on your goals. You will gain new experience from participating in a special project and will be more likely to believe that your job prepares you for your future career. Even if you do not get new tasks immediately, keep asking for them. It is essential to gain new responsibilities this way because you prove that you are sincerely interested in doing them when you ask to take them on. Be an opportunist who looks for chances to take on a task for someone who is overburdened with too much work on their plate or may be out sick. It is always a bonus when you help someone else on your team to succeed.
You Are On Your Way to Success
This article illustrates why finding a path that leads to your career success is so important. You deserve to work with passion and purpose and to develop a viable career plan. If you are faced with stagnancy in your workplace that brings you frustration and boredom, do not focus on the negative aspects. Instead, set your sights on a new challenge or goal for your career. New growth will motivate you to find new areas of fulfillment. Constantly reevaluate your situation and dreams because they should grow and change along with you. What you need or want today may be different in two years. Your hard work, dedication, confidence, and time investment will make your career goals a reality!
