Last updated on Mar 7, 2024

You’re considering a promotion. How do you know if it’s the right move?

A promotion can be a great opportunity to advance your career, increase your income, and take on new challenges. But it can also come with more stress, responsibility, and expectations. How do you decide if a promotion is right for you? Here are some questions to ask yourself before you accept or decline a promotion offer.

1 Assess your goals

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How does the promotion align with them? A promotion can help you move closer to your desired position, industry, or field, or it can take you further away from them. Think about where you want to be in five or ten years, and how the promotion will affect your trajectory. If the promotion is not in line with your goals, you might want to look for other opportunities that are more suitable for you.

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2 Evaluate your skills

Do you have the skills and experience required for the new role? A promotion can be a chance to learn new skills and grow professionally, but it can also be overwhelming if you are not prepared for the increased workload, complexity, or scope of the new role. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, and assess if you need to acquire or improve any skills before you take on the promotion. You can also ask for feedback from your manager, peers, or mentors to get a realistic picture of your readiness.

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Brad Coenen, ASP

ASP / Health, Safety, & Environmental Manager / Drilling, Completions, Production, Construction Safety / Constantly Learning
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When you become stale in your job and everything just seems as if you are going nowhere, learn something new. Ask for more roles. Ask for a promotion if there is one to be had. Remember though, if you don’t use what you have already learned, many times you forget. Continuously learn.

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3 Consider your fit

How well do you fit into the culture, values, and vision of the new team, department, or organization? A promotion can mean working with different people, adapting to different expectations, and adopting different ways of doing things. You need to consider if you are comfortable and compatible with the new environment, and if you share the same vision and goals as the new leaders and colleagues. If the fit is not good, you might face conflicts, frustrations, or dissatisfaction in the new role.

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4 Compare your options

What are the pros and cons of accepting or declining the promotion? A promotion can offer many benefits, such as higher salary, more recognition, more autonomy, or more impact. But it can also entail some costs, such as longer hours, more pressure, more travel, or more trade-offs. You need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the promotion, and compare them with your current situation and other alternatives. You can also use a decision matrix or a SWOT analysis to help you compare your options objectively.

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Brad Coenen, ASP

ASP / Health, Safety, & Environmental Manager / Drilling, Completions, Production, Construction Safety / Constantly Learning
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When considering a promotion, I always say never sell yourself short. If you believe you can do the job, go for it. One thing that is most important to me is family. Don’t take away from your family for a job that may or may not be there for you. Many will know what I mean by this. Make sure you have people that want to see you succeed.

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5 Listen to your intuition

What does your gut feeling tell you about the promotion? A promotion can be a logical and rational decision, but it can also be influenced by your emotions, values, and preferences. You need to listen to your intuition and trust your instincts about the promotion. If you feel excited, motivated, and confident about the promotion, it might be a good sign that it is the right move for you. If you feel anxious, doubtful, or reluctant about the promotion, it might be a warning sign that it is not the right move for you.

A promotion can be a major decision that affects your career and your life. By asking yourself these questions, you can make a more informed and confident choice that suits your goals, skills, fit, options, and intuition.

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Tashianna Bostick

Serving the world one plate at a time.
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Doubt is normal, as long as you are still motivated and are open to criticism over your mistakes. Doubt should be a fleeting feeling. Once you've accepted the role, accept that they've made the right choice.

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Brad Coenen, ASP

ASP / Health, Safety, & Environmental Manager / Drilling, Completions, Production, Construction Safety / Constantly Learning
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I agree. Ask if you are a good fit for the position. Ask yourself if you can do what is asked. Lastly, if you have doubt, I have always said, push yourself to see. You will never be given a job to fail. Management will always want you to succeed.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Hendri Saputra

Helping you to land a job through resume review | Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding | Recruitment Consultant | Your HR Buddy🥂
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Some ways to recognise that your promotion is at the right move through answering the following questions: 1. Does the position is aligned with your career goal? Does it support the gap? 2. How much compensation & benefits will I receive? Because this is really needed when it comes to promotion? 3. What are the responsibilities will be given? Does it appropriate with my body and mental ability? If those questions have been answered well. It means your promotion is at the right move

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You’re considering a promotion. How do you know if it’s the right move?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess your goals

2 Evaluate your skills

3 Consider your fit

4 Compare your options

5 Listen to your intuition

6 Here’s what else to consider

Business Administration

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You’re considering a promotion. How do you know if it’s the right move?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess your goals

2 Evaluate your skills

3 Consider your fit

4 Compare your options

5 Listen to your intuition

6 Here’s what else to consider

Business Administration

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