There is no one answer to this question, but being aware of your company’s policies and procedures is going to be important. If your company’s policies are unclear or non-existent, here are some things to consider:

• Clarify what you are looking for in a promotion. Many organizations have internal promotion tracks for positions. Even without going into a supervisor or manager role, you might be able to move up as a “specialist” or “senior” in your role.
• Talk with your supervisor about your performance. If you have areas for improvement, be willing to work on those. Otherwise, explore what opportunities exist for you to expand your role based on the quality of your work.
• Demonstrate the requirements of the next level position. By taking on stretch assignments and new responsibilities, you can demonstrate the skills for that new role. Many times, people need to be doing the work of the next level up before receiving the comparable title and compensation.

For more information on gaining a promotion, check out the Advancing Your Career section of our website.