I recently got a raise for my previous year performance. But its not even half of what I was expecting. Will it be too much if i inform my boss that I would like to work on a promotion next year?
Submitted by mattpalmer on Monday August 11th, 2014 10:02 pm
Timing when looking for a promotion is more about tenure than proximity to a raise. If you've been somewhere for less than a year, in most industries, then it's usually considered a little presumptuous to start talking about promotions. Exceptions might exist for some very fast-moving industries/companies, or if you were hired in "overqualified", or if you've done work widely acclaimed as being absolutely spectacular.
There's two sorts of promotions, though -- at least if you're currently an individual contributor. There's a move up the ladder of individual contribution, where you're getting better pay and more responsibility, then there's a move onto the managerial "career track". Most companies unfortunately see only one ladder -- management -- and don't consider developing non-managerial staff in anything more than a desultory, ad-hoc fashion. If you're in a company like that, you really need to consider whether you want "a promotion", because it will come with managerial responsibilities. Let me tell you, management is a change in the kind of work you do, not just a matter of degrees. If all you're looking for is more money, you'll want to do some serious soul-searching before you essentially take on what is, essentially, a career change.
There is a recent podcast series on "getting ready for a promotion" which is probably worth listening to in order to give you more details about what you should be looking to do to get you ready.
Maaaaaybe...
Timing when looking for a promotion is more about tenure than proximity to a raise. If you've been somewhere for less than a year, in most industries, then it's usually considered a little presumptuous to start talking about promotions. Exceptions might exist for some very fast-moving industries/companies, or if you were hired in "overqualified", or if you've done work widely acclaimed as being absolutely spectacular.
There's two sorts of promotions, though -- at least if you're currently an individual contributor. There's a move up the ladder of individual contribution, where you're getting better pay and more responsibility, then there's a move onto the managerial "career track". Most companies unfortunately see only one ladder -- management -- and don't consider developing non-managerial staff in anything more than a desultory, ad-hoc fashion. If you're in a company like that, you really need to consider whether you want "a promotion", because it will come with managerial responsibilities. Let me tell you, management is a change in the kind of work you do, not just a matter of degrees. If all you're looking for is more money, you'll want to do some serious soul-searching before you essentially take on what is, essentially, a career change.
There is a recent podcast series on "getting ready for a promotion" which is probably worth listening to in order to give you more details about what you should be looking to do to get you ready.