The Extras Can Get You Promoted

If you want to be promoted or have more control over your job responsibilities, there are additional things you can do to get positive attention. These extra efforts also can help you get promotions and performance increases, but of course your work will have to be good as well. Here are 10 tips to give you a leg up on the corporate ladder.

Dress and Groom for a Promotion

If you want to get ahead in an organization, dress and groom as if you work at the level you hope to reach next. This is not always possible, but at the very least be clean and well-groomed. Wear clothes that fit well and look good on you. Copy the clothing styles of others in the organization who are successful. Even when your coworkers see you away from the office, present the image you want for yourself at work.

Be Early and Stay Late

Get to work early each day. Use this time to list what you plan to get done that day. At the end of the day, leave at least a few minutes after quitting time. Let the boss know that you are willing to stay late to meet an important deadline. If you do stay late, let the boss know!

Some employers may not want you to work beyond your regular hours. They fear problems with governmental agencies that may force them to pay overtime wages. If this is the case, do what your employer wants you to do, but make it clear that you are willing to help in any way needed.

Be Enthusiastic

Go out of your way to find ways to enjoy your job. Tell others what you like about it, particularly those you work with. Emphasize those parts of your job that you like to do and do well. Share this enthusiasm, even in conversations with your friends. Go out of your way to tell your supervisor what you like about your job. This will help you focus on the parts of your job you do best and want to develop. It also will help others notice that you do those things well.

Ask for More Responsibility

Be willing to take on more responsibility. Let the boss know you want to move up. As soon as you begin a new job, look for ways to learn new things. Volunteer to help out in ways you feel will make you more valuable to the organization. And ask for advice about what you can do to be more valuable to the organization.

Ask for Training

Get as much training as possible! Take any training that is available from your employer. Even if it is not in your area of responsibility, it may help you gain new skills in other areas. Define what training you need to do your job better. If it is not available through your employer, explain to your supervisor how the training will help the organization. Ask for help in finding the best training source.

Learn on Your Own Time

Decide what you need to learn to get ahead or to get the job you want. Take evening classes. Instead of watching TV at home, read books and magazines on related subjects. Stay up with what is going on in your field.

Computer skills and the use of new technologies are very important. If your job does not require you to develop these skills, it is most important that you go out and learn them outside of your job. Then look for ways to use these new technologies and skills in your present job.

Take on Difficult Projects

You won't get much positive attention unless you do more than is expected of you. Look for projects you think you can do well, and would benefit the organization in some clear way. Don't promise too much, and keep a low profile while you do the work. If no one expects too much, it is easier to be seen as successful, even if your results are not as good as you had hoped.

Get Measurable Results

Look for some way to measure the results of your work. Keep records of what you do. Compare your results to past performance or the average performance of others in similar situations. If your results look good, send a report to your supervisor. For example, if the number of orders went up 40 percent over the same month last year with no increase in staff, that's a big accomplishment.

Look for Ways to Present What You Do in Numbers

Monitor your influence on:

• Dollars saved
• Percent of increased sales
• Number of persons served
• Number of units processed
• Size of budget

Don't Just Quit

Sometimes a job just doesn't work out. Maybe you feel that you won't get ahead there. It is often better to begin looking for another job than to allow yourself to get negative. But ask for a job change within the organization before you give up. Or be more assertive in asking your boss for more responsibility or different assignments.

If you do decide to leave, begin looking for a job but don't share this with coworkers. Make every effort to do your job and be positive. When you find another job, give thirty days notice if at all possible. Remember that your next employer will want to contact your previous ones, so do be as friendly and as productive as possible in your final days.

http://career-tips.monster.com/job-promotion/The-Extras-Can-Get-You-Promoted/IBS.aspx

10 Reasons You Won't Get Promoted This Year

If the economic climate did anything in 2009, it served as a scapegoat for everyone's problems. While most of the people who are unemployed, never got a raise or who went bankrupt last year legitimately suffered because of the economy, there are also plenty of people using it as an excuse.

Now, at the beginning of 2010, employees face performance reviews and talks of prospective raises and promotions. When your boss tells you that it's just not going to happen this year, you may feel inclined to shrug and tell yourself it's because of the economy -- but that might not be the case.

Here are 10 reasons you might not receive a promotion any time soon -- and they're not because of the economy.

Reason No. 1: You are unprepared -- and clueless

Just because your boss or other decision-makers in the promotion process may know you, it doesn't mean that you don't still have to prove yourself to them. Highlight your skills, knowledge and strengths, and show how you can improve the company's bottom line. Convince them that you have new ideas and that those ideas will help the company achieve and surpass its goals.

Reason No. 2: You're a slacker

So what if you're always late to work and you're the first one to leave? And, like anyone has noticed that you call in sick on Mondays and Fridays. And it's not your fault you've missed a few deadlines or turned down a few projects. You had things to do like (insert most recent excuse here).

Reason No. 3: You don't go above and beyond

No one can say you're a slacker. You show up on time, you leave when you're supposed to and you meet your goals. But that's the problem -- just meeting goals or doing work that is "adequate" or "OK" will probably allow you to keep your job, but it's not enough to get you promoted. Arrive early, stay late, offer innovative ideas, beat deadlines and do excellent work. If you don't go the extra mile for your employer, don't be surprised if your employer doesn't go the extra mile for you.

Reason No. 4: You haven't shown leadership

You can't follow others and do a good job; you need to lead others and be the example. Do what you can to get noticed by the people who have the power to promote you. Take on a project that is outside of your job duties; volunteer to lead committees or organize group outings; or head up your department's holiday gift-giving program. All of these things will throw your name into the mix of people who always step up and increase your chances of a promotion.

Reason No. 5: You think you're entitled

Think you're above making coffee, stapling reports, writing bylines or making presentations? Well, you're not. Many employees think that doing such tasks is "beneath them" and that if they could start doing more meaningful work, they would care a little more about their jobs. We've got news for you: You aren't going to get that chance if you don't pay your dues first. Show your employer you're willing to do whatever is asked of you, and you'll be much more likely to be given more responsibility.

Reason No. 6: You don't dress the part

Do you come to work dressed sloppily or inappropriately? Does "casual Friday" mean shorts and flip-flops or jeans and a sweatshirt? If so, it's no wonder you aren't being seen as management material. Take a cue from those working in the position that you want to be promoted to and dress similarly. If you look the part, it will be a lot easier for decision-makers to see you in that role.

Reason No. 7: Your boss doesn't want to lose you

You know you're great at your job -- and so does your boss. If you're the best associate your boss has ever had, is it any wonder he doesn't want you to go anywhere? Make sure your boss knows that you want to move up in the company. Offer to help him find an equally great employee so that you both get what you want.

Reason No. 8: You have a bad attitude

No one likes a poor sport -- especially in management. If you don't have a positive attitude at all times, even when times are tough, it will be hard for decision-makers to support you. Also, do you have any enemies at work? Anyone who doesn't like you can make it more difficult for you to get ahead; especially if those people have the ear of the person who can promote you. Make nice with the right people and your chances of getting that promotion are greatly increased.

Reason No. 9: Your co-workers are superstars

The reality is that some industries are more competitive than others, and a promotion is going to be harder, no matter what. In such a field, you are going to have to do a phenomenal job instead of just a good one. Do more of the things we've mentioned, work to separate yourself and show that you're management material, too.

Reason No. 10: It's all about you

Your supervisors want to know what you can do for them, not the other way around. So, in a discussion about a promotion, don't overuse the terms "my career" or continually talk about taking your career to the next level. Instead, talk about how you are committed to doing everything you can to help the company grow and succeed.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1436-Getting-Ahead-10-Reasons-Why-You-Wont-Get-Promoted-This-Year

4 Ways to Retire Well

You've heard scary retirement stories before -- tales of woe and angst from would-be retirees who fell short of the goal line. You've heard all about how not to plan for your golden years: spending more than you save, ineffectively drawing up your retirement goals.

But how can you retire well instead? Four simple steps will help get you there.

Step 1: Invest along the way.
Planning financially for retirement is a simple yet daunting task, and the plethora of investment vehicles and potential holdings only make it more so. But you don't have to be scared by all of these options. In fact, if you don't have time to follow individual companies on a regular basis, you're better off taking the easy way out and sidling up to some funds instead.

We at the Fool are big proponents of mutual funds with low expense ratios. They just make sense: The less money you pay to fund managers, the more money you can keep in your investments -- and you can reap greater rewards as a result.

Furthermore, the funds you hold can reflect your personal investing style, as well as your stage in life. If you've got plenty of time until retirement, you might consider funds that own more volatile -- yet potentially quite lucrative -- investments, such as the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM), which holds small- and mid-cap companies such as E*TRADE Financial (Nasdaq: ETFC), Human Genome Sciences (Nasdaq: HGSI), and 3Com (Nasdaq: COMS).

If you'd like to play it a little closer to the vest, a fund like the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) may be more your style. With known entities such as ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and Pfizer (Nasdaq: PFE), you'll typically endure less volatility while keeping a grasp on winning companies. Not a bad deal!

Step 2: Maintain a list of your retirement goals.
But your investments won't do you any good if you have no plan for how you're going to use them. What do you want to do in retirement? Do you want to move to Maui? Spend your days volunteering at an animal shelter? Buy an Airstream and travel the world? Become a late-blooming barista at the local coffee bar?

Once you have a list of your goals and dreams -- no matter how big, small, or silly they may seem -- you can plan your finances accordingly. Are you willing to forgo other luxuries when you plunk thousands of dollars down on that RV? Exactly how much would your mortgage be in Maui? Questions like these will help guide your financial plans today.

And if your dreams and goals change through the years, no matter. Keep your list of retirement aims current, and you'll always have your eye on the prize.

Step 3: Keep some cash in short-term accounts.
While you're investing and dreaming, be sure to plunk some money where you can get to it easily. Even though you've got your mind on retirement, life continues to happen, and with it come surprises. By socking some cash away in short-term vehicles such as money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and plain ol' run-of-the-mill savings accounts, you'll be ready for the unexpected even if the market is taking one of its customary naps.

Step 4: Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Once you lay the groundwork for your retirement goals and plans, keep an eye on them; even index funds and other, more hands-off holdings need attention from time to time. If you find you're going in an unfavorable direction, either with your investment decisions or your long-term goals, then take care to change them. It's your future, after all; no sense in sitting idly by and watching your plans go down the wrong road.

Granted, retirement planning takes time and effort. But the rewards will be worth the investment.

http://www.fool.com/retirement/general/2010/01/04/4-ways-to-retire-well.aspx