Even if you love your job, it’s completely normal to be ambitious and want a whole lot more career wise. But getting a promotion doesn’t just happen overnight – it takes a lot of careful thought and planning. Here are eight tips from the experts on how to get where you want to be.

1. Map your career: The first thing you need to do is make sure you know exactly what it is you want. Deciding where you'd like to be in the next six months, one year and so on - and working out what it will take for you to get there - is crucial to your success. Careful planning allows you to think ahead and determine what path you'll need to follow in order to accomplish your goals. It’s going to take time, and patience to get there so make sure that the goals you set are realistic, as reaching them and crossing them off your list will be a great motivator.

2. Verbalise your aspirations: It’s important to let your superiors know about your career goals and to gain their support because they are the people who can help you to achieve them. If you don’t ask what it takes to achieve the promotion that you’ve set your sights on, you'll quite possibly never know – and nor will they have any idea of what you’re looking for. Being honest and upfront about your desires to climb up the career ladder will be something they’ll then be aware of, and, as a result, will hopefully bear in mind when keeping an eye on your efforts and assessing your abilities.

3. Go the extra mile: Be a model employee. It’s important to always work beyond your minimum job-spec, to do more than what you’re required to do. This will show your drive and determination to succeed, as well as to showcase what you’re capable of doing on your own initiative. So let your actions speak louder than your words by taking on additional responsibilities, working longer hours, and tackling the tasks others don’t want, and you’ll soon be known as a dependable employee who not only gets the job done, but does it confidently and with a positive attitude. More importantly, offer your assistance to the people in the sector that you’re aiming to be in. Get involved in current projects and make sure that you stand out as a hard worker who is worthy of that promotion by finding a niche for what you’re good at and showing them what you’re made of.

4. Upskill: Be prepared for lifelong learning. Having a qualification is not enough; you need to possess a range of multiple skills and knowledge that will set you apart from your colleagues. So never stop learning and treat each day as an opportunity to learn something new about the company you work at and the industry you’re involved in. Read as much as you can or access the internet, which is a great tool for sourcing information that you can use in self-study. More specifically start learning the job you want to make your own and get yourself sussed to the point that you are comfortable with all its work requirements.

5. Network: No man - or woman - is an island, and if you want to achieve anything in life, you cannot do it alone. One of the most powerful career tools is the network you build up over the years so make sure you stay in touch. Not only will you gain valuable information about upcoming promotions – and who has the power to make them happen – but you’ll also remain on top of your game, as well as industry trends. Remember that it’s who, not what, you know that will help you attain your goals so make sure you’re constantly developing and nurturing good relationships.

6. Dress for success: If you’re reaching for the sky you need to look and act the part, both in the way you dress, and the manner in which you go about delivering top quality work. Regardless of what field you’re in, or what position you’re aspiring to, dressing and behaving appropriately will go a long way in demonstrating your commitment to tackling whatever comes your way. It’s a clear signal that you know what’s expected of you, you’ve got what it takes, and you’re prepared to do whatever is needed to get where you want to be.

7. Get a mentor: Your office is likely to be full of people who have achieved the success you’re aiming for, so pick someone who you admire for his or her achievements. If you’re serious about getting that promotion, finding a mentor to guide you should be a top priority. Look for someone who is objective in their views and not just a direct supervisor - this person can coach you along the way and will help you identify possible stumbling blocks. They will let you bounce your ideas off them, discuss your doubts and tell it like it is even when you really don’t want to know! If you can’t find anyone suitable within your company, make sure your ‘outsider’ is in a similar industry to yours.

8. Get your head right: Getting a promotion is about working hard and making sure the right people notice. But no matter how much knowledge you accumulate, no matter how much commitment you demonstrate, if your attitude sucks, you’ll never impress. If you want others to believe in you, you’ve got to have people skills, to show that you’re worthy of respect. Restraint and humility are important here, so lose any arrogance and rather focus on being genuine and sincere. Be respectful at all times and finally, practice patience. Your new job opportunity can take a long time to materialise which is why it’s important to remain focused and accept that persistence is the key. So never stop learning and never stop proving and improving yourself, then go out there and make it happen!

*Information supplied by Gayleen Baxter, Chief Operating Officer of Kelly and Jules Newton, MD of Avocado Vision

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