As the conclusion of the financial year edges closer, thousands of Australian employees are attending meetings with the hope of getting a promotion or a pay rise.
And while some are successful, others walk away no better off – or in a worse place – than they were previously.
So to assist people with their office endeavours, Christina Shenouda, the Head of Portfolio (Business, Finance and Technology) at Open Colleges, has revealed her top tips for those seeking promotions at each age.
To help people with their office endeavours, Christina Shenouda, the Head of Portfolio at Open Colleges, has revealed her top tips for those seeking promotions at each age
MILLENNIALS
According to Ms Shenouda, one of the most common mistakes millennials make when trying to nab a promotion is picking the wrong the time to ask.
‘Assuming you’re a shoo-in for a promotion and expecting it to happen five minutes after you have started a new job indicates to you manager that you’re not in it for the long haul,’ she said.
‘You need to demonstrate you understand that you will need to prove yourself first before you can be considered for a promotion. Poor timing can essentially put you last on your managers list for a promotion.’
Ms Shenouda said when asking for a pay rise, timing is also key.
According to Ms Shenouda, one of the most common mistakes millennials make when trying to nab a promotion is picking the wrong the time to ask
‘If you raise this with your manager while the organisation in going through a restructure or a period of poor financial performance you really telling you manager you don’t have the business acumen to know that there are more immediate and critical business priorities,’ she said.
‘It indicates you’re just in it for yourself.’
She also added that in some cases, millennials ‘don’t value the impact education can have on the eligibility for a promotion, particularly in industries such as financial services, engineering and education’.
‘Expecting that promotion because you have fallen into a role and have been doing it for longer than others doesn’t mean you’re entitled to the position over another candidate that has the qualifications to back up their experience,’ she said.
‘Consider what you have truly invested in your education and if this has become a blocker to your career progression.’
She also added that in some cases, millennials ‘don’t value the impact education can have on the eligibility for a promotion, particularly in industries such as financial services, engineering and education’
MIDDLE AGED ADULTS AND PARENTS
For those who are in the midst of raising a family and juggling the many needs of those who rely on them as well as trying to establish their careers, it can be a challenging time.
‘In some cases, managers make assumptions about our abilities handle the increased responsibilities of a promotion whilst managing a young family,’ Ms Shenouda said.
‘I have seen colleagues in the past insist they are perfect for a promotion but before they have even got their foot through the door they are rattling off a long list of things they can’t do due to family or personal commitments.’
Ms Shenouda said instead of showing their manager that all their family responsibilities limit what they can do in the workplace, they should flip it over and use it to demonstrate their strengths.
For those who are in the midst of raising a family and juggling the many needs of those who rely on them as well as trying to establish their careers, it can be a challenging time
‘Most families these days need to be run like an organisation. Show your manager how well you multi task and manage competing priorities,’ Ms Shenouda said.
‘In my experience over the years I found mums are the best team members. They know how to support others whilst managing multiple challenging and competing priorities because they do this outside the office.
‘It’s also worth considering that in many cases during this phase of life people realise that maybe their current career path is no longer what they want any more post having a family or it doesn’t align to their vision for family life.’
Ms Shenouda said this is often also the best time to consider retraining and carving out a new career path where a promotion is actually achievable because it provides more work/life balance.
‘In my experience over the years I found mums are the best team members. They know how to support others whilst managing multiple challenging and competing priorities,’ she said
50 +
‘If you over 50 unfortunately there are still some stereotypical biases in the workplace,’ Ms Shenouda said.
‘The assumption that employees over 50 are not proficient with technology or can’t keep up with the fast-paced environment in some organisations still remains no matter how untrue it is.
‘In some cases, you really need to prove to your manager that this is simply not the case!’
Ms Shenouda said employees can do this by proactively putting their hand up for new projects or collaborative tasks that have a technology focus.
‘Take the initiative to make suggestions to you manager about new tools or software that can help enable you or the rest of the team to do their job more efficiently,’ Ms Shenouda said.
‘If you over 50 unfortunately there are still some stereotypical biases in the workplace,’ Ms Shenouda said
‘And if in your case the stereotype actually rings true consider how you can educate yourself in this area before you are truly left behind!’
‘Lastly and not dissimilar to millennials is that in some cases over 50s feel a sense of entitlement to that promotion simply due to their tenure with the organisation.
‘But length of service alone does not entitle you to a promotion if you have not demonstrated you have made valuable contributions to the organisation.
‘A manager sensing from a candidate that they expect to get that promotion simply because they have been there the longest is not likely to end well.’