Raise the game: Go ahead and ask for a promotion — just be prepared

You do great work, you’re respected by your peers and, well, you really want a new car. If that’s the case, it’s very possible you’re looking for more responsibilities at work and — with that new promotion — more money. But before you go barreling into your manager’s office, consider the what and how of getting that promotion.

What employers look for

● Carefulness: Do you tend to think and plan carefully before acting or speaking?

● Cooperation: Are you likable and cordial in interpersonal situations?

● Creativity: Do you find it easy to be imaginative and to suggest new ways to accomplish a task that saves time, effort or money?

● Discipline: Are you responsible, dependable and do you follow through with tasks without becoming distracted or bored?

● Goodwill: Do you tend to be forgiving and believe that others are wellintentioned?

● Influence: Are you able to positively impact social situations by speaking up and becoming a group leader?

● Optimism: Do you have a positive outlook and confidence?

● Order: Are you neat and efficient? ● Savvy: Are you able to read other people’s motives accurately, understand office politics and anticipate the needs and intentions of others?

● Sociability: Do you enjoy interacting with coworkers?

● Stability: Do you have the ability to maintain composure and rationality in stressful working situations – whether the stress is actual or perceived?

● Striving: Do you have high aspiration levels and a desire to work hard to achieve goals?

How to get promoted:

● Establish a reputation for doing quality work and being cooperative, a team player and pleasant to work with.

● Engage with people at all levels of the organization because you never know who might be a champion — or a saboteur.

● Develop yourself into the next job. Once you set your sights on a promotion, ideally long before you are ready to ask for it, observe the job and the competencies required to do it well. Take advantage of any and all developmental opportunities, including on-the-job.

● Call attention to your accomplishments and contributions without turning people off. Let people know what you can do without appearing to be self-promoting. Ask for advice about a project or problem that allows you to demonstrate what you already know. You can also offer support and advice to others.

● Get others talking about you. If you can establish mentoring relationships, your mentors will champion you and help create a buzz in the company. It is usually not wise to directly ask others to blow your horn for you, but by developing solid relationships and going out of your way to help people, you increase the likelihood that they will talk about you and your abilities.

● When appropriate, take on the tasks of the job you are aiming for. Be careful not to step on any professional toes, but be alert to opportunities to demonstrate you can do the job. Perhaps you can lead a special project or support your boss in writing a proposal.