Passed over for a promotion… AGAIN?! What you don’t know about how organizations make promotion decisions is hurting your promotion chances. You may find it extremely hard to believe, but there is a logical process for promotion decision-making. This process determines WHO will be promoted and WHEN they’ll be promoted. I’m going to let you in on this process and specifically the four prerequisites for every promotion decision. You’ll want to know what these are because they will help you get that promotion you’ve been waiting patiently for.

2. Passed over for a promotion
…AGAIN?!
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

3. What you don’t know about how
organizations make promotion decisions
is hurting your promotion chances.
You may find it extremely hard to believe, but there is a
logical process for promotion decision-making.
This process determines WHO will be promoted and
WHEN they’ll be promoted.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

4. You need to fulfill certain PREREQUISITES in
order to even be considered for a promotion.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

6. 1. A position that needs to be filled must exist.
2. Your capabilities and experience must match that
position’s requirements.
3. You need to be better than all the other candidates for
that position.
4. You must communicate your interest in taking on that
position.
Let’s take a closer look at each one of these prerequisites and see what
you can do to make each happen.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites
The FOUR PREREQUISITES
(things that need to be in place BEFORE a promotion happens are)

7. If you are in a company or even an industry
that is going out like a dinosaur, then you’re
setting yourself up for promotion
disappointment.
It doesn’t matter how hard you work, or
how much time you spend in a job, you
simply will not grow if the organization is
not growing.
So, don’t expect or ask to be promoted to a
managerial role if your organization is busy
downsizing and no managerial openings exist.
A position that
needs to be
filled must exist.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

8. Sometimes the only way to be promoted is to say goodbye
to your present organization and move on.
And when you do make this decision, you’ll want to look for a
dynamic, growing organization in a similarly dynamic industry –
this is where promotion opportunities exist.
A position that needs to be
filled must exist.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

9. Your organization is not your mommy or
daddy who will give you a promotion if you just
whine about it long enough. Neither will your
organization withhold a promotion just to
punish you.
Promotions are not rewards or punishments.
If the organization has a need, and you fit
that need, then it WILL promote you
because it is in their best interest.
Your capabilities
and experience
must match.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

10. Just because someone “put in the time” and has been
“loyal” to an organization, doesn’t automatically make
them the best person for the position.
The best person for the position is someone who can do the job,
regardless of tenure and even number of years of experience. You need
to exhibit your capability to do the next level role and have similar
experience NOW!
Your capabilities and
experience must match.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

11. Here’s another one of those not so obvious, yet
obvious, prerequisites. It’s not enough for you
to be “qualified” for the position…you need to
be the MOST qualified for it. And that too
amongst both internal and external candidates.
Think of your organization as a football team
drafting players. The prerequisite for the
tryouts may be an age requirement, a minimum
of a college degree, or years of playing
experience. Even if you meet the minimum
requirements, you’ll still be competing with
others to be selected.
You need to be
better than all
the other
candidates
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

12. A promotion means more responsibilities which equate with higher
compensation, but the promotion is not the only way to get a pay raise. If it’s
simply a pay raise you’re looking for, then you can get that by becoming the
top performer in your current position. A lateral move, without a change of
grade, is another way to get both a new role and better pay.
First figure out exactly what it is you want…the position itself or simply
higher pay...if it’s the position, then get ready to COMPETE.
You need to be better than all
the other candidates.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

13. If you do decide it’s the position that
you want, then this prerequisite
doesn’t mean you just talk about
wanting the promotion. It means you
need to also demonstrate you are
ready for the promotion.
You do this by BEING good at similar
tasks and responsibilities.
You must
communicate
your interest in
the position
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

14. You can do this by:
❏ Observing and talking to the people currently in that position.
❏ Which tasks and responsibilities do they spend the most time on?
❏ What capabilities do they have that you need to further develop?
❏ Talk to your Manager about getting similar tasks and
responsibilities right NOW in your current role
❏ Take on projects or special assignments that let you both learn
and communicate your interest and capability
You must communicate your
interest in the position.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

15. Next, REMIND...
A major deficiency that your Boss has is their inability to read your mind.
This means you have to TELL your Boss what kinds of projects, assignments,
and even positions you are interested in. This should be an ongoing, regular
discussion with your Boss during follow-up meetings and the mid-year review
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

16. THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites
RECAP
The FOUR JOB PROMOTION PREREQUISITES:
A position that needs to be filled must exist.
Your capabilities and experience must match.
You need to be better than all the other candidates.
You must communicate your interest in the position.

17. Did any of them surprise you?
Sometimes the obvious prerequisites get lost or
forgotten in your day-to-day job execution.
Besides delivering on your current job responsibilities,
you also need to prepare, position and pitch yourself
for your next position…and job promotion.
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites

18. I’m Rahila Narejo and I’ve taken a vow to help high-achieving career
professionals like you to never compromise, cower, or commit career
suicide EVER AGAIN!
Since the year 2000 I've been working as an HR Consultant with Fortune
500 companies, using my background and expertise in HR, psychology,
and neuroscience to provide practical, science-backed solutions.
I was pulled into writing a nationally published, weekly career advice
column –which I did for ten years– helping thousands of people go from
career FRUSTRATION to ACCELERATION.
Let’s make it happen!
It’s time for a great JOB, a greater CAREER,
and your greatest LIFE!
THE 4 JOB
PROMOTION
Prerequisites