Securing a promotion at work can be challenging because of various reasons, especially as the environment has become highly competitive today. Understanding what is expected of an employee and fulfilling those expectations can help the person build a case to request for a promotion.

The best time to anticipate a promotion is when a candidate’s performance exceeds the employer’s expectations, and their achievements resonate with the organisation’s overarching goals, says Anshuman Das, CEO and Co-Founder of talent solutions provider Careernet.

Such a situation would be the best time to ask for a promotion.

Das says an individual may be able to land a promotion during annual appraisals based on factors like performance and market conditions. But sometimes it may take years to climb the corporate ladder.

Do all promotions come with a pay raise?

While promotions often signify a significant increase in responsibilities, not all ascension comes with a pay raise. Every employee requires compensation equal to the effort they are putting in, he says. So when the company offers a promotion without any pay raise, he advises individuals to carefully consider their own long-term advancement goals and set their priorities straight before making a decision.

On the other hand, Lokesh Nigam, Co-founder and Director, Kognoz, a technology-driven people consulting company, says while promotions might increase money, it is critical to initiate talks around abilities and skills during the promotion process. Keeping the possible growth opportunities in mind, he suggests individuals continuously emphasise how their new responsibilities compliment their skills and how they can successfully contribute to the organisation.

Sure-shot strategies to get promoted at work

For increasing your chances of getting promoted at work, both Das and Nigam offer a few mantras that you might want to implement. To begin with, they recommend exhibiting leadership qualities by going beyond the basic job description, taking initiative and displaying a problem-solving attitude.

Next, they highlight the importance of investing in continuous skill development by enrolling in relevant upskilling courses, undergoing training, and participating in seminars. Doing so will help individuals showcase their dedication to align with organisational goals as well as achieve their own ones.

Another strategy to expedite your promotion process, they suggest, is to establish a strong network within the company and seek mentorship to highlight your achievements and keep an eye for opportunities; demonstrate your abilities to effectively communicate and connect; and gather insights and guidance.

Lastly, they both greatly emphasise consistently delivering excellent performance and acing your current role in order to present yourself as the ideal candidate for a promotion.

If your promotion gets rejected, here’s what you should do then

Although it can be challenging to embrace the rejection of a request for promotion, Das says it is important to maintain professionalism. In such a situation, employees should seek constructive feedback to identify areas of improvement; engage in self-reflection to evaluate contribution and skill; understand promotion expectations and, most importantly, communicate the desire to grow. However, one should consider other career paths if their current role is not rewarding enough, he adds.It is necessary to respond to a rejection with fortitude and initiative, says Nigam. Talking to superiors to understand the reason for the decision can help make a strong improvement plan. Besides, he suggests asking for quantifiable objectives as fulfilling those may lead to a promotion later on.

Moreover, acquiring new skills, honing current ones, demonstrating flexibility and a strong work ethic are some of the factors that can increase your chances for promotions, he adds.