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Going for a promotion in work? You better put in the groundwork now

If you know a vacancy is likely, 12 months down the line, you should objectively assess yourself and see have you got what it takes now.

YOU GO FOR an interview in a company where nobody knows you. Tough? Perhaps. But sometimes, going for an external interview with strangers can be a whole lot easier than going for promotion in your own company.

The person going for the internal interview carries baggage they’d never carry into the same encounter in another company. The reasons for this stem from one thing – they know you. And that obstacle is overcome in two ways; laying the right ground work, and nailing the interview.

Laying the groundwork

Start the groundwork early. If you know a vacancy is likely, 12 months down the line, you should objectively assess yourself and see have you got what it takes now. If you don’t, what are you going to do about it? Pursue a relevant further qualification, or ask to work on different challenging projects, or take on tasks you may have to do at the higher rank?

You also need figure out if your boss feels you have what it takes. That can be done by a bit of reflection, or just by asking them straight out “Am I ready? And if not, what can I do to be ready?” Your boss may think you’re technically excellent, but lack the management skills to progress up the ladder. Find a way to change their view.

Remember, there is no zero option. We are always being assessed. And if you’re not delivering what your boss wants, or to the level they want it done in your current role, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that they’ll view you as competent for the next level, no matter how well you perform in the interview.

If promotion is what you want, you should be regularly asking yourself “What do I need to do to make the next step?”

Nailing the interview

Then you have to deliver in the interview. And internally, that can be tough. Often the biggest risk in internal interviews is a tendency to cut to the chase too fast. For example, the candidate is asked about a time when they showed a management competence, a candidate says ‘Well I was tasked to lead a team to deliver X task.

The end result was an event that went without a hitch. That gives the panel no insight into what they actually did to make the thing run well. Worse than that, it gives the panel no insight into what they were thinking, or what judgement they brought to bear of their management of the task or people.

Feedback I often hear is “sure they know that anyway.” Doesn’t mean they don’t need to be reminded.

The major difference between a good and bad promotional interview is whether or not you made the panel ‘see’ the skill you’re displaying and then whether or not you show them that what happened wasn’t luck, it was the result of judgement, thinking and insight on your part.

It’s making sure you describe the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘when’ and then explain the ‘how’ and the ‘why’.

The second major hurdle for people at promotion interviews is failing to extrapolate from their current role to the higher position they’re applying for.

In other words, they prove they can communicate, or manage, or organise at their current level but don’t show how that will fit when they get promoted. It’s a bit like convincing your girlfriend to marry you; it’s one thing to show how you’re thoughtful as a boyfriend, it’s another to show how that thoughtfulness will make you a great dad to a clutch of kids.

Your job is to provide the evidence that you are that person. Gather it together, think it through, paint the picture and link it to the future.

Your skills 

Before you go into the interview, spend some time imagining how each of your experiences and skills will be useful after you get promoted. If you show great teamwork, try to think how you’ll use that skill when you’re managing a new team. If you’ve got great organisational skills, try to imagine how you’d use them if you were handed a new project.

An easy way to do it is ask yourself ‘If I’m a manager, how will I communicate with my reports? If I’m a sergeant, how will you organise resources for different tasks? If I’m consultant, how will you motivate your people?’

Once you think through the implications and see yourself at the higher grade it becomes easy for you to show the panel, not only that you’re competent in your current role, but that your competence would directly translate into the more senior gig. The simple act of moving your thinking into the future and converting your past-tense examples into future-tense potential will help.

Always remember, when preparing for the interview, that the panel are looking for the best person for the role. Your job is to provide the evidence that you are that person. Gather it together, think it through, paint the picture and link it to the future. Don’t just think about the past, figure out what your past means to your future. Then go right in and solve their problem by being inescapably the solution to it.

Eoghan McDermott is a Director of The Communications Clinic and is Head of Training and Careers there. www.communicationsclinic.ie. Follow him on Twitter @EoghanMcDermott 

Read: Women often undersell their experience and capabilities, while men don’t think twice about it>

Read: Public speaking can be nerve-wracking. Here’s some tips on how to do it well>

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21 Comments
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    Mute Awkward Seal
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:29 AM

    Or just move to a new company. I’m pretty sure that’s the quickest way up the ladder. When you already work for a company they think they’ve already acquired you as you’re already working there. If they want to attract new talent they have to offer the better positions and salary to outside people.

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    Mute Joe Brennan
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:12 AM

    Good article. A lot of people expect a promotion just because they are in the job a long time, it doesn’t and shouldn’t work like that. If you want to progress in a company you should always be trying to work to the next level above where you are now.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:16 AM

    Most companies now get you to do the job for a year or two on your lower grade salary do you can “get the experience” then promote you by default as if it’s an achievement.

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    Mute Allister
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:16 AM

    Yes Jenkins I know your well qualified for this promotion as the new Junior manager and have worked every weekend all year for the company but my brain dead blonde haired Secretary who can’t find her way out of the staff toilet just happens to have bought herself some quality new knockers so I’m afraid she’s hired….!

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    Mute Steve
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:27 AM

    That actually does happen.

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    Mute Goldberg
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    Apr 5th 2016, 9:02 AM

    Or if you want to save time and effort know the right people – good old fashioned irish nepotism

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    Mute Steve
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:26 AM

    You dont need to do an interview to get a promotion. A promotion is a reward for hard work etc. Interviews are usually required for roles to which the candidate has applied, but would not otherwise have been offered to them by management. The author is confusing getting a promotion with an upward career move

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    Mute James Darcy
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:45 AM

    Steve that’s makes no sense. Most companies have policies where they have to offer posts openly using a selection process even if they have someone in mind.

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    Mute Steve
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:57 AM

    a promotion can be an increase of salary and a title change, whilst still doing the same day to day job. And i can assure you, if a company has a person in mind for a job, they will get it.

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    Mute Patrick Lawlor
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    Apr 5th 2016, 9:28 AM

    A),find a respected and senor managerial mentor B) suck up to uour peers and especially your inline manager C) be happy, fake it until you make it on a daily basis D) don’t have friends in the workplace as they will likely stab you in the back at some stage E) Be submissive to your manager even more so if she is a woman F) Suck up a bit more And yes I have screwed up on all of the points above in corporate

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    Mute Steve
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    Apr 5th 2016, 12:45 PM

    Having a female manager is the kiss of death. Women take things too personally and are emotionally hysterical at the best of times.

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:03 AM

    Slow News Day.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Apr 5th 2016, 10:00 AM

    The article is a bit odd in suggesting you know promotions are coming down the line in 12 months. Most promotions are a result of a person leaving so you don’t get to know in advance.
    You can also be valuable in your role so they won’t promote you because they know it would be more difficult to replace you. Seen it happen to many people and myself.
    You can also have corporate policy of requirements. Went for a role and they said they needed somebody with 10 years experience in a similar role. So they hire a guy with no experience of the client or industry versus my 4 years with the client and 15 in the industry. As he doesn’t know the business or systems I have to do a chunk of his job plus my own work.

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    Mute Patrick Lawlor
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    Apr 5th 2016, 11:11 AM

    And that is Politics in the workplace unfortunately.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Apr 5th 2016, 8:32 AM

    And rightly so

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    Mute Jim Woodcock
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    Apr 5th 2016, 6:16 PM

    I like your thinking Phil. Id go that route

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Apr 6th 2016, 9:21 AM

    These have to be among the worst articles on Journal.ie

    If you want a laugh check out the bios of the communications clinic! http://communicationsclinic.ie/about/

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    Mute Brian
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    Apr 10th 2016, 11:13 AM

    Complete agree, these terrible promo articles for the company advertising. Really wonder how these wafflers make a living spouting this crap

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    Mute Phil Blanc
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    Apr 5th 2016, 12:44 PM

    Or sleep your way to the top!

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