How To Move Up, Not Out!

Written By: Gillis Lindberg,
CEO, Wells, Bradley & Associates, Inc.

Congratulations you have found an organization where
you enjoy the culture and philosophy.   You like the products and services that they offer.  You respect
your managers, and enjoy your peers.  In other words you have no desire to leave but you want to continue
to move up the corporate ladder.
7 Steps on How to Prepare to Move Up, Not Out!

1. First identify/research what is the next step/position that would be a natural stepping stone from your current position.
• Talk to your peers, your manager, and human resources to see what direction(s) you can head your career from where you are at today.
• Remember there could be several paths your career could head at this time. Look at all of the options.


2. Secondly, identify the time frame that position would be available in your organization.
• Once again, peers, managers, and human resources should be able to give you a possible time frame of when such an opportunity might become available.


3. Thirdly, learn exactly what qualifications will be necessary for you to have, to be qualified for the position, when it becomes available.
• Identify specifically what skills you will need.
• Identify what additional education you will need to acquire. Find out what specific degrees, licenses, educational courses, specific software/programs that you should have exposure to in order to move to the next step.
• Identify what kind, and what amount of experience you will need to have to be ready. 


4. Fourthly, learn what resources are available to you to get the qualifications you will need to move into that role down the road.
• Does you company offer training,
• Do they pay for you to get licenses,
• Do they pay for you to go back to get another degree. 
• Is there someone in the department that is willing to mentor and groom others.
• Find out if you can you offer to help with pieces of projects that will help you gather on the job training, while being an asset to the team.


5. The fifth step, start to network.
• Start to network and get yourself known to the decision makers, so when the position opens up you would be a known entity and a natural fit.
• If being active in the community will be a key part of your new role, start to get active today, it takes time to get known and to build a network!


6. A key step to getting a promotion is to learn all the aspects of your current position and meeting or exceeding expectations on a consistent basis.


7. Remember – “A positive can do attitude,” and an enthusiasm for the job speaks louder than words.