4 ways to hit your goal of getting an internal promotion

Are you hoping to get an internal promotion this year and rise the ranks within your organisation? Well, here’s some welcome news — according to a LinkedIn report, internal mobility will play a big part in shaping 2021.

Jobvite describes internal mobility as the re-hiring of an existing employee. 

According to the Raconteur, a survey by the consultancy Great Place to Work of 400,000 US workers showed that when people believe internal promotions are effectively managed, they are twice as likely to put in extra effort at work and five times more likely to believe their bosses act with integrity.

Deloitte notes that companies that promote internally are 32% more likely to be satisfied with the quality of their new hires.

While some companies recognise the value of hiring from within, those aspiring to climb the higher rungs of the corporate ladder should remember that getting an internal promotion has more to do with your skills and contribution to the company rather than years of service.

It’s also worth noting that each company may opt for different ways to engage in internal promotions.

Some may opt for an open job posting where an announcement is made in a company-wide email, or even via an update to the internal job board, said business.com. Others seek manager referrals or nominations for candidates, or via succession planning where certain team members are trained to develop their potential to replace leaders or managers who will retire, or move on to different organisations. 

So, if you want to improve your chances of success, what are some of the things you can do to set yourself up for an internal promotion?

Leadership skills

When companies grow, so will their need for leaders. Similarly, if you plan to climb up the corporate ladder, you’ll want to focus on developing your leadership skills.

You don’t necessarily have to be in charge to initiate a project to demonstrate this — leadership skills can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, whether it’s by flexing your excellent organisational skills by keeping to deadlines, showing maturity and wisdom by asking quality questions during meetings that show you look into the broader implications of projects or tasks, to helping or mentoring new hires as they ease into their roles, to name a few.

Learn new skills

Increasing your chances of securing a promotion includes learning new skills to ensure you remain relevant and continue to add value to your organisation.

It helps to understand what type of education, training, or certification is necessary to secure a promotion to a more senior role. Marketers, for instance, may find that skills such as marketing analytics and analysis may be skills that would help them move into more senior executive roles.

You can enrol in online courses via platforms such as edX and Coursera, or even opt for postgraduate diplomas to getting an MBA, depending on your role and the type of education needed. 

Demonstrate the right attitude

Are you at the point in your career where meeting your daily or monthly KPI has become a cinch?

Perhaps it’s time to go above and beyond that you have what it takes to go to the next level. This includes taking on more responsibilities at work such as taking the initiative to create or to lead and/or manage new projects, should such opportunities arise. 

You should also consider finding a mentor to facilitate your professional growth. 

Express your interest

While upskilling plays an important role in getting an internal promotion, it’s equally important to express your career goals to your superiors, especially during performance reviews, so that they’re aware of your career aspirations.

They may also offer invaluable insights into areas worth upskilling to facilitate the process.