A question we hear a lot at GetFive is: How long should someone stay at a job?
The answer varies. In certain industries, such as entertainment and advertising, job hopping is to be expected. But other industries want employees to be more stable. If you’re learning new skills that increase your marketability and fit in with your Forty-Year Vision, or if you’re set to get a promotion, you should stay.
Now, there’s a big difference between being “promotable” and being in a position where you are actually about to be promoted.
If you are promotable, you are:
- Invited to meetings where your other peers are not included.
- Told secrets — things you are sure others do not hear.
- Assigned to important task forces.
- Asked for input on major decisions.
- Given more responsibility, including tasks your boss is responsible for.
Even if you work hard and are valued, your boss may like to keep you right where you are. But how do you know if you’ll get a promotion? The following questions may help you shed some light on this issue:
Are you in the power center?
You must be clearly visible in the power structure to get promoted. Personality plays a role as well. Those who are disliked rarely become the boss, and if you don’t like your boss, chances are your boss doesn’t like you. If you’ve ever undermined your boss, forget about a promotion.
Are you ready for the next move?
If the next level doesn’t make sense to you, it probably won’t make sense to others either. To get to this point, you should position yourself in the following ways:
- Get the experience you need from task forces or special projects.
- Show you have a record of success.
- Be active in your industry. Most people who are successful in their organizations are also successful elsewhere, such as with industry associations or community organizations.
Are you in the right place at the right time?
You may be doing well, but is your company doing well? If not, you might not move up. Even if you scored perfectly in all of the above items, if no one’s moving, you probably won’t either.
Have you groomed someone to take your place?
If not, they are unlikely to move you up.
Even if you are liked by your boss and at the power center, a promotion is not guaranteed.
Don’t wait until you’re so battered that you can barely think straight. Consider lateral moves into faster-growing companies. Big companies, after all, add credentials to your resume, and smaller companies add responsibility and experience. More advice? GetFive is here to help!
