If you have been in your current role for the past few years and you can do your job with your hands tied behind your back and blindfolded, the chances are that you are feeling unchallenged. You need to consider how you can get yourself out of a professional rut and taking pride in your work once again. The easiest way to do this is to take on new responsibilities. If you feel that you are ready, it might be time to break free from the shackles of your current position in an effort to secure a promotion. Take a look at these three simple ways you can scale the next rung on the career ladder.
Be Honest
While you might be tempted to boost your resume a little by being a touch too loose with the truth, don’t do it. You may develop a reputation for dishonesty. If you manage to secure an interview based on a dodgy resume, you will eventually be found out, which could result in dismissal if you have already secured the new role. Instead, be honest in everything that you do.
Even in your current role, you need to have a sense of integrity. Don’t fiddle the figures and try to meet your targets in a fair way. If you notice something awry within the company finances, don’t keep quiet for an easy life and do something about it. Being a whistleblower isn’t frowned upon any more, and is seen as the right and just thing to do. You will always maintain anonymity and it won’t affect your chances of securing a promoted position.
Applications
When you are ready to apply for new roles, make sure that you don’t use a generic letter. You need your personal statement and letter of application to be bespoke for every employer that you are writing to. Address an individual by name in the letter, and show off your knowledge of the company. State what you can do for the firm rather than what they can do for you. Show off your communication abilities through your writing, and be quantitative with any data that you talk about. If you have saved a company money in your role as a change manager, how much did you save? If you have made a working practice more efficient, what methodology did you introduce? Be specific and quantifiable.
Skill Up
Sometimes, we have been working in the same role for so long that we have let our professional development fall by the wayside. If you haven’t been on a course for a few years, it’s time to secure some training. Look at the job and person specifications for the promoted role you seek, and ensure that you have the qualifications and training required. When you have upskilled yourself, you can enhance your resume, making you a more attractive proposition to potential employers. Head to events, network, and distribute your resume if anyone suggests that they have roles to fill. Many jobs are sourced not from jobs boards or recruitment consultants, but by who you know.
Follow this guide, and you will secure your promotion in no time.
