13 Tips to Get Noticed and Get Promoted

When you have your eye on a promotion, waiting and wondering can be frustrating. So, we recommend you stop waiting to get noticed and get promoted, and take action to make it happen.

Being a “good” employee is usually not enough to move up. You have to be exceptional. But you also have to project the right attitude and work ethic. These tips can help you shine at work and make you the best candidate for that next promotion.

Be Reliable

We know this one isn’t shocking, but it’s easily one of the most important aspects of being a top-notch employee. Why would a boss give an unreliable worker more responsibilities? They wouldn’t. If an employee arrives 10 minutes late to every shift, they probably can’t be trusted to open the store. You should be so reliable that your boss considers you their right-hand worker.

Prioritize punctuality, prompt communication, quality work, efficiency, and honesty in the workplace. Don’t cross boundaries, don’t panic under pressure, and don’t speak negatively about anyone or anything at the company. Being reliable is just as much about what you don’t do as what you do. Be a model employee and become the go-to person when your boss needs something done right.

Communicate Clearly

Communicating clearly is a crucial aspect of being reliable, but they’re not exactly the same thing. Clear communication is a symptom of reliability. When in doubt, the best thing you can do is communicate with your coworkers and supervisors. If you don’t feel you can do this at your company, maybe it’s time to hit the job boards.

Clear communication means you keep everyone in the loop who should be in the loop. You let your manager know ahead of time if you’re going to be five minutes late. You communicate any task or project issues to your boss. This includes your mistakes. If you’re open and honest about a mistake and take accountability, this can work in your favor. Trying to hide a mistake paints you as dishonest and shifty.

Ask for Feedback

Bosses and managers often have to give feedback to those who don’t want it. The worst employees may give their superiors attitude when met with criticism, or even argue with them and neglect to take responsibility for their work.

Going in the opposite direction can get you noticed, so don’t wait for feedback, ask for it! This shows that you want to perform well and are not only open to feedback but hungry for it. It’s essential you use the feedback to improve your performance, otherwise, it’s an empty gesture.

Nurture Work Relationships

Have you ever heard of networking? You probably have. The more time we spend in the workforce, the more we realize that networking is the golden key to success. It’s all about who you know! If you tend to be anti-social at work or don’t get along with your coworkers, it’s time to change.

Connect with your coworkers and supervisors on a personal level. This can lead to glowing recommendations, more promotion opportunities, and even improved performance. When you have friends at work, you’re more likely to succeed, but you’re also more likely to enjoy work.

Observe Other Promotees

When in doubt, pay attention to the “favorites” at your company. If you’re the “favorite,” then you’re probably already halfway to a promotion! You can determine what your boss likes to see in their employees by watching how their “favorites” perform and taking notes from employees who have received promotions.

While the advice on this list will work with most bosses, it might not work for yours. Some managers have very specific qualities they like in a worker, or maybe even biases. Think of this as gathering intel — you figure out what qualities and behaviors correlate with promotions, and do your best to adopt them.

Show You Care

Many people show up to work just for the paycheck. Hey, we’re not judging anyone who feels that way, but that attitude is unlikely to get you a promotion. On the other hand, if you show genuine interest in your job and care about the quality of your work, people will take notice.

This means going beyond the bare minimum and holding yourself to a high standard. It means showing interest and passion for the company and its mission. Anything you do that is for the company or client rather than the paycheck will show you care about the work.

Love What You Do

You need to show that you care about your job, but loving what you do can also be a force in getting you that promotion. But, what if you hate what you do? That’s where this gets tricky. If you already love your job, awesome! Make sure you express that. But if you hate your job, learning to love it will take some effort.

Maybe you just want that promotion for a fatter paycheck. We get it. But if you can shift your perspective and try to find small aspects of your work to relish, it will show. It will show in your demeanor, your quality of work, and your office morale.

Find a Mentor

Depending on your work culture, this idea may not be an option for you. However, if possible, taking on a mentor can fast-track you to a promotion. They can help you improve your performance, make the right connections, and guide you toward the job of your dreams.

You can execute a lot of advice on this list just by having a mentor, as it’s an inherent way to ask for feedback, show you care, and nurture work relationships. Choose a mentor who has an excellent reputation at the company. If your boss is willing to be your mentor, that’s a great path to a promotion.

Take Initiative

Doing things without having to be asked is a magnificent way to get noticed. If your supervisor comes over to ask you to do a task, only to find out you’ve already done it, that’s a recipe for a promotion. The next time you’re at work and think, “Should I take care of that?” the answer is yes, yes, yes.

Taking initiative also means solving problems before they happen, going the extra mile to perfect something, and taking on extra work for the good of the company. Yes, this might mean you do more than your fair share, but that’s how you get noticed!

Practice Active Listening

“Listen” is a stellar piece of advice if you want a promotion. It sounds basic, but effective listening requires thoughtfulness, presence, and practice. Asking questions, verbally affirming, paraphrasing, and connecting information are all ways you can actively listen.

However, when vying for a promotion, we think body language is most important. Smile, nod, maintain eye contact, and don’t fidget. More than your words, your body will tell someone you’re engaged with the conversation.

Be Positive and Personable

Even if you’re not the most charming and talkative person, you can still work on your social skills to better your chances of a promotion. People want to work with people they like — it’s that simple.

And you don’t need to be everyone’s best friend. Make friendly small talk, give appropriate compliments, and try to curate a consistently pleasant and upbeat vibe. If people want to be around you, they’ll also want to promote you.

Display Leadership

Many, many promotions come with managerial responsibilities. When you’re good at your job, your reward is to manage others who do that job. This doesn’t always result in the best managers, but you can be different. Hone and show off your skills as a leader before you get the promotion (because we know you’re going to get it).

Showing your leadership skills in everyday situations is a fabulous way to grab your boss’ attention and show you have what it takes to move up. This doesn’t mean bossing around your peers; it means appropriately delegating tasks, supporting staff, and going beyond your minimum duties.

Be the Best at What You Do

We know this sounds aggressive. “Be the best” is much easier said than done. However, if you’re eyeing a promotion, we assume you’re good at your job to start with. Watching your co-workers and going beyond what they do can get you noticed.

We don’t want you to think of your co-workers as rivals, but if you want that promotion, you need to stand out from the crowd and be more valuable than anyone else at your level. Asking your superiors for additional training or education opportunities can simultaneously help you be the best and show how much you care.