If you feel like you’ve mastered your current job, moving up the ladder at work is a goal you can achieve. You may be in a place where you’re feeling unchallenged or even a little bored, and you’re hungry to try something new. The next step requires just a little bit of courage on your part. Many times, if you don’t ask to take the next step in your career, the opportunity won’t present itself. This blog will help you understand how to move beyond your current job by asking for more responsibility at work in a way that’s beneficial to you and your employer.
How to Move Up the Ladder at Work
Step 1: Before asking for more responsibility, a raise, and/or a title change, it’s important to have a little bit of a self-check. Look at your work within the context of what your manager sees and ask yourself, “Do I own my current position?” Asking for more responsibility won’t resonate with your boss if you’re missing deadlines or failing to achieve responsibilities in your current job. Take a moment and get real. Are you meeting the expectations of your current position? Do you meet and exceed your goals every month? If you can honestly affirm that you’re meeting the requirements for your current position, then it’s okay to move on to the next step.
Step 2: Give some thought to what you mean by “more responsibility.” Don’t go to your manager without a goal in mind for your advancement. Also, don’t be ambiguous in your request to take on more. What will this next step look like? Do you want to manage people? Are you ready to take on the leadership of a project? Would you like to move to a different department? Think of these questions from the perspective of your manager and the company itself. How can your changing job description improve an area of the business or a problem that your manager has? What value will your job shift or promotion have for the overall business goal the company is striving for? Don’t ask for more responsibility in a vacuum or you may not like where you end up.
Step 3: Once you’re clear on where you are and where you want to go, it’s time to set a meeting with your boss. Try to do it at a time when your boss isn’t too overwhelmed—remember, timing is everything. Stay very positive during this meeting and frame it within the context of how you can help your manager and the company succeed. Recognize that you may not receive an answer to your request on the spot, either; many companies have a process in place but also your manager may simply need time to think about how your ideas will affect the rest of the team.
Feeling frustrated or underutilized may be the underlying emotion that’s leading you to ask for more responsibility. Have a conversation with your employer about how you bring more skills to the table than they’re utilizing, and then sit back for a moment to consider your next move. If you still feel that the company isn’t a good fit, you have options.
Stellar Staffing Solutions is Napa Valley’s full-service resource for employees just like you. We partner with the region’s top employers to bring together the best talent with the best jobs. Start the conversation with our team today—it’s free—and we can help you determine what’s next in your career.
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