Tired of Being Passed Over for Promotions – the Steps You Can Take to Advance Your Career

While there will always be those people who seem to have opportunities just fall into their lap, for the majority of people it’s not quite so easy. This is even more evident when you take a look at your career. Chances are you started in an entry-level position with hopes to advance and promises from your employer that they make it habit to hire within. Well before you know it, many possible promotions later, and many months or even years later, you may still find yourself in a relatively junior role.

Getting passed up for a promotion the first time can sting, and it can act as a kick in the butt to try harder next time. But if you find you are continually being passed by and overlooked, then it’s hard not to let frustration sink in. Clearly you want to believe that your career is going somewhere, and you aren’t just stuck in one spot, but how can you stay positive when it seems as though you’re not being noticed, nor are your hard work and efforts.

Rather than just accept being passed up once again, why not take control of the situation and do what you can to ensure you are not only noticed but are the front runner for that next big promotion. In order to help you out, here are some tips and steps you can take that will ensure your employer starts to notice, recognize, and then reward all that you are doing.

Deal with Your Negative Emotions First

Before you can even start taking the steps necessary to get that next promotion, it’s important you learn how to deal with your negative emotions. A good tip is to re-direct these emotions and use them to fuel your desire to succeed. Not getting that promotion that you had been hoping for definitely hurts, and it is a knock to your confidence, but it’s important not to dwell on it. Use it as a lesson learned, dust yourself off, and tell yourself that you are worthy and that you’ve got plenty to offer.

If you’re still finding it hard to put those negative feelings aside, then it can be useful to have a cooling off period. Maybe give yourself a mental break, stop watching for upcoming promotions, and just let yourself relax before you do something you regret, such as telling your boss off. Approaching the situation with a level head is always the best advice.

Ask for Feedback So You Can Learn Why You Weren’t Chosen

It’s pretty hard to make changes and improvements when you aren’t sure where you were lacking. With that in mind, it can be a good idea to speak to your employer, or your HR representative, and ask where you fell short. Maybe you’re missing out on a key piece of training, educational background, experience, or something else. By knowing where you fell short, you’ll be able to make an action plan to fill those gaps in time for the next promotion.

Are You Truly Putting in Your Best Effort?

Sometimes you can think you are giving it your all and really applying yourself in the position, but if you’re really honest with yourself, you may not be going above and beyond. Often this is what it takes to get noticed and land that promotion, especially if it’s a big step up. Your employer wants to see your dedication, commitment, and desire for you and the business to succeed.

So, what does going above and beyond look like? Well it means you’re the one who offers to stay late, come in on weekends, take on extra responsibilities and tasks, and really pour everything into the job at hand without any complaints.

Perhaps You Aren’t Qualified

Then there is the cold hard fact that you just may not be qualified for the job. Just because you want the promotion and you work hard in your current job, doesn’t automatically make you qualified for a promotion. It could be helpful to enroll in some extra training courses so that you can learn more skills and techniques.

Now speaking of courses, did you know that you can enroll in courses that will help to increase your level of assertiveness, confidence, and ability to lead? These can all be great qualities that your employer is looking for.

One great example is assertiveness training, and you can discover options on findcourses.com that will allow you to find the course that works with your needs and schedule. Assertiveness training will help you to stand up for your ideas and thoughts in the workplace and learn how to communicate them in a clear and constructive way all while displaying your own confidence.

Go Ahead and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

It can be easy to find yourself in a comfort zone where you feel safe, as though you know what you’re doing, and you know it’s easy. The problem with sticking to your comfort zone and playing it safe is that you will miss out on all kinds of incredible opportunities. How do you know what’s out there if you never take a moment and look?

A good way to overcome this obstacle is to approach your job with an open mind. Be open to new possibilities, learning new skills, working with different team members, and just trying things that don’t feel safe.

Communicate Your Goals to Your Employer

There is also the fact that your employer isn’t a mind-reader which means they may not know what your goals are. Maybe they think you are happy where you are, and that you feel satisfied. Take an opportunity to meet with your boss or supervisor and discuss your future growth plans, goals, and aspirations. Once they understand what it is you are after in the company, maybe they will start considering you for a promotion. Again, it’s about showing your employer that you are serious and dedicated to your job.

Look for a New Job

At the end of the day if you’ve taken all these steps and are still being passed by for promotions, then it may be time to move on. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out for whatever reason, and you can’t let it get you down. Instead start networking, looking around, and letting people know that you are actively looking for a new job. Just be sure to accept a job that is at a higher level than what you are currently in, or else the move doesn’t make much sense.

Remember, finding a new job can be a long process so you need to have patience and keep looking without letting the negative thoughts seep in.

That Promotion Will be Yours

Advancing your career isn’t always going to be simple and straightforward. Sometimes there are twists and turns in your career path that you never anticipated when you first started. If you find yourself constantly being picked over for promotions, then it’s time to take action and take control of your career. Push those negative thoughts aside and start taking the steps needed in order to land you that job you deserve.