Will you get promoted? Take the test » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk

I remember in the early days of our service, PJ once nicely asked her HoD to make explicit the criterion for promotion as we perceived that we were passed over for people who were contributing less to the organisation than we were.

Though very few of us entered the service thinking of climbing the corporate ladder (truth be told, many of us just want to be left alone to do what we love best, teach!), undeniably when the promotion list comes out on April each year, there is bound to be talk and feelings of discontentment. Some may wonder why certain people are on that list and others may wonder why their names are not on it.

I used to believe that if I was doing good work, there is no need to sound my own horn for surely good work is plain for all to see and people are bound to recognise it for what it is. If the organisation fails to recognise the good work I am putting in, then surely it is the organisation's loss and not mine.

Of course, I have failed to realise that the above belief only holds true if one reports to a competent boss. Unfortunately, I have come to realise that not all bosses are competent and at the end of the day, if we do not take responsibility for our own career, then we really have no one else to blame but ourselves when we realise that people who are less deserving end up getting promoted over us.

So go ahead, take the test and see if there's anything that you need to do to chart your career better. After all, if we are spending so much time at work and getting so stressed by it, we might as well be duly paid for our work. :)

 

April 29, 2008

Will you get promoted? Take the test

 

One of the most important indicators of whether or not you should switch jobs is if you are in line for a promotion. It’s not so much that you should be climbing a ladder, but more that if you are not being recognized for great work then you’re probably not doing great work. And if you are not doing great work, this is not the job for you. We should all be doing great stuff.

So take this quiz to find out if you will get promoted.

 

1. Are you friends with your boss?

 

2. Are you working on high-profile projects?

3. Are you paid at the high end of the range for your position?

4. Do you work fewer hours than everyone else?

5. Do you feel like you are due a promotion because of your experience?

Will you get promoted? Take the test » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk