Receiving a job promotion is a dream of many workers. But, professional advancement isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. If a promotion is on the horizon for you, you’ll want to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the offer before accepting it. Asking yourself the following questions can help you make a more enlightened decision.
Will you enjoy your new position? Just because a promotion offers a boost in title, more money or a few perks doesn’t mean it will increase your job satisfaction. To do that, the position must match your unique interests and strengths.
Before jumping into a new role, closely review your potential job description. Ask your supervisor plenty of questions about what your new job would look like. Will you still be able to work on your favorite assignments? What new tasks will be added? What type of training will be provided? The answers to these questions will give you a better idea of how much you’ll enjoy the work that comes with your elevated position.
Will you be good at the job? Once you have a clear understanding of what the role consists of, you’ll be able to decide if you’ll excel at the new tasks. There’s nothing worse than working in a job that makes you feel like a failure. That’s why you want to make sure your new role is one you’ll thrive in.
Think about tasks you’ve received positive feedback on in the past. Also, consider assignments that have been more difficult for you. After you have a good idea of the type of projects you’re likely to do well with, review the job description again. For your promotion to be a good fit, the job should rely heavily on skills you possess in abundance.
Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Most things in life worth having come with some degree of risk. The same is true for a promotion. But just because there’s an element of uncertainty doesn’t mean you should turn down the offer – it just means you should carefully evaluate the risks before rushing in. Consider the pros and cons of changing your current tasks, level of responsibility and role on the team.
If you’re only interested in the promotion because it means more money, be careful. You may find that the additional salary wasn’t worth it. However, if you’ve reviewed the offer and it seems like a role that would increase your professional satisfaction and personal contentment, then by all means accept it!
What factors would you consider when evaluating a promotion? Would you turn down a promotion if you didn’t think it was a good fit for you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Great post as usual.
In addition to the three things you listed, I would also advise that folks take a good look at who their new boss or supervisor is going to be.
What has been the turnover rate for staff reporting to this person?
What are other direct reports saying about this person who will be your new boss?
This is important information to have since your new boss will have a lot to do with whether or not this promotion will make or break your career.
Check out blog postings for National Career Development Month in November 2007 where we address this a couple of times. http://bullseyeresumes.blogspot.com
Posted by: Marcia Robinson | January 04, 2008 at 11:08 PM