You are pretty confident that you’re doing a great job in your position, which you have had for a long time already. Your performance reviews always turn out to be positive, and everyone can see how dedicated you are to your job. However, you still find yourself in the same position for many years already. It feels like a promotion is never going to come your way.
What’s wrong?
Although you are sure that you’re doing well at your job, it is possible that you are also sabotaging your career development. You might be making mistakes that are preventing you from getting the promotion you believe you truly deserve.
Here is a list of the things that could be limiting your potential for career advancement at work, and what you can do to fix them:
Not voicing out your opinions and ideas
Just because you are not in a high position doesn’t mean you’ve got no valuable ideas to share. When you keep your ideas to yourself, you would never know if they can benefit you and your organization. Every time you see something that could be changed or improved in the workplace, there is no reason for you to be afraid to speak up.
What’s important is that you arrange your thoughts and present your ideas in a positive way. Emphasize that you are looking for ways to make the workplace and its people better. Don’t make people think you are desperate to impress them with your intelligence (although that’s exactly what you want to do).
Not asking for what you want
If you are not getting any promotions or raises, it could be because you’re not asking for them. Your boss is not a mind reader, and he or she wouldn’t know how desperately you want to be promoted unless you let them know about it.
You’ve got to advocate for yourself if you want things to go in your favor. Of course, you can just demand your boss to promote you, but even the little things, like having a flexible schedule or getting a more challenging project, can help you get your boss’s attention. Make sure, however, that you ask politely and in a professional manner.
Limiting your role according to your job description
Yes, you know your role, and you are making every effort to do your role well. Although you have a job description, it doesn’t mean that you should stick to it ONLY. If you want to get noticed, you should be more proactive and be more willing to take on other tasks, even if they are beyond your job description.
You could volunteer to do some of the tasks your boss or other coworkers hate to do. And if there is a chance to be part of another department, grab that opportunity. Through this, you will become flexible, and you will learn a lot of things from the more experienced and knowledgeable people.
Not getting expert advice
Mentors and career coaching experts are there for a reason. A career coach is someone who will tell you what you are good at, and what you still need to learn to become a valuable member of your company. With the help of a coach, you can make a clear career plan, and you will also know what action steps to take for you to achieve your career goals. In short, your career will have a direction.