How to Promote Yourself on the Job

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You Were Never Untaught Not to Boast

The problem stems from how we are brought up. You see, we are all taught at a young age — appropriately — not to brag. After all, who wants to play with the kid whose daddy makes more money than your own?

But as we get older, we are never UN-taught; we never UN-learn that personal promotion along the way is an important component of personal success. To be clear, Gillis is not promoting outright boasting. That will never do the trick. But what he is saying is that when we start reaching upper elementary, middle school and high school, we need to be learning how to communicate our value; how to inform others of how good we are — again, appropriately. Into college and on into the career world, appropriate personal promotion becomes mandatory. Or, as the wise man said to Gillis: You stall.

Over the years, Rick Gillis, author of PROMOTE! It's Who Knows What You Know that Makes a Career, has counseled job seekers and studied the phenomenon called employment. Seeking advanced knowledge, he scaled a great office building. (OK, he used the elevator!) At the peak, he met a wise, old, retired human resources professional who shared a sage piece of career wisdom with him. The HR professional said that, unknown to most mortals, before you turn 30, the corporation you work for has already determined if you are to be groomed for management or if your career will be, effectively, stalled. And more, these employees will never know that this has occurred because they will continue to receive attaboy's and an occasional raise but never again will they be significantly promoted.

Gillis says he has learned that the wise, old HR professional spoke the truth — as he understood it. What he did not know, and what Gillis has discovered doing battle with the demons of advancement, is that there is a universal solution to this dilemma and mere mortals can learn and become proficient at professional personal promotion on the job.

In this slideshow, Gillis shares his advice on how to overcome this obstacle by promoting yourself on the job.

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