How to Draw Attention to Your New Job
Have you ever thought that you are expected to be promoted just to see your boss announce that the role is being transferred to someone else? This must be one of the worst feelings you can experience.
So I got where the Lifehacker reader came from when they wrote to me recently to ask for career advice.
15 years later, the number of readers in their company has reached the limit; even though they had stellar annual reviews, they continued to pass through for promotion to management. “So I’m starting with another company (with a slightly higher pay) and want to start with networking and self-promotion right away to get ahead quickly. What advice do you have? “They asked. “I’m sure that communicating with people above you (eg managers, directors, etc.) is a good step, but what else?”
I knew there should be some advice for this reader beyond the simple old “networking”, so I reached out to some of the experts in the world of hiring and promotion. Here’s what they had to offer to those who have just found a new job and want to grow quickly.
Set goals as soon as possible
“There is no fast track to sustainable careers,” warned Shannon Falotico, HR and Talent Manager at Circa Interactive , but you can take steps to signal that you have big plans for your new role.
“From the start, make it clear to your manager that you are thrilled to take on responsibilities in your new position, but that you also have long-term career goals,” she said.
Head coach Sonia Sigler advised not to wait for your manager to sit down with you and discuss goals. She tells her clients to come up with a 90-day success plan. “Set goals and then set expectations,” she said. “You are going to set new goals and achieve them, and then talk about achieving those goals. Everyone will connect you from the very beginning with the pursuit of goals. “
According to her, it is obvious that after 90 days you will not relax. But “Do it right away and then talk about it – that’s what matters.”
Learn something new
The desire to expand your skill set can give you a boost to get noticed.
“Be sure to take advantage of any learning opportunity,” said Kim Hoffman, director of talent acquisition at Intuit . “Chances are, your company has free courses, trainings or skill-building clubs and a network within the company.”
Do you think you’ve mastered the skills for your role in-depth? Consider training outside of this area. Consider an introduction to management if, for example, you are looking to move into a management position.
Record your achievements
In an ideal world, your manager is in charge of your professional development and will be happy to share your early accomplishments in your position.
But if they are not thrilled with your accomplishments, don’t let those victories fade into the background.
Falotico recommends keeping track of your progress for your role in a spreadsheet or slideshow. Be sure to include the learning opportunities you used to expand your skills.
That way, when you have the opportunity to speak with your manager, you won’t have to rely on your memory to remember your greatest hits.
Find support from more than just your boss
Still not getting warm fuzz from your boss? Transfer the conversation to a new outlet.
“Make an appointment with your HR representative,” Falotico said. “Most organizations have career advancement programs, even if they are infrequently used, and your HR representative should be able to provide career counseling.”
This HR specialist may also recommend someone in your organization to mentor and provide advice related to your role and goals.
“Aside from this mentor, be sure to ask for feedback from everyone you work with,” Hoffman said. “It helps identify your strengths and opportunities for improvement.”
Act quickly after a big victory
Don’t let your accomplishments fade into the background until you ask about your potential for advancement. “Often times, career advancement considerations are driven by the person’s latest accomplishments,” explained Ian Cook, VP of HR solutions at Visier . “So if you are finishing a particularly high-profile project or have just exceeded your expectations in terms of results, it’s time to start talking about promotion.”
He explained that many promotion decisions are made based on the performance of someone in the past two or three months. But keep an eye on your company’s promotion schedule. If there is only one time of the year when everyone is talking and a lot of people are shuffling around, then you want to be noticed. “[You can] optimize your chances of progress if you can achieve your best results two to three months before that time window,” Cook said.
Be (somewhat) patient
“It is unlikely that a promotion will occur within the first year after joining the organization, but you have a sweet spot between two to four years,” explained Cook.
So don’t worry if you’re doing everything right, but you don’t see any progress on payment or title issues. You may not have hit that perfect window yet, or you may have already gone through it. “In five years … it will slow down significantly,” he added. Cook said that if you don’t achieve the growth you want in that five-year window, it might be time to change your organization.
Keep promoting yourself
Even if this is not the time of year for reviews or promotions, you should still look for opportunities to remind your boss of your skills and accomplishments. This is especially true for those skills that you have had for centuries, but which may not always be used in your role.
“It takes a serious public relations effort to spot skills that you may not be using in your current position,” Sigler said. “You should constantly talk about your previous work experience and what you have learned from this experience. Otherwise, people forget – or don’t know at all. “
Hoffman agreed. “You’re not getting anywhere by waiting for a promotion,” she said. “I would recommend rethinking your company’s core values and making sure you fulfill each of them on every task.”