In this growing and changing job market, any person’s patience can be worn thin waiting to climb up that steep and metaphorical corporate ladder to success. For most of us, the daily 9 to 5 grind just isn’t what it used to be back when we were fresh from college and easily roused! We crave recognition for a job well done, achievement in tasks that are worthwhile, and the chance to work with interesting, motivated, and responsible people. Be that as it may, we go with the flow and settle, letting that element of excitement willow away into the cracks and crevices of our computer keyboards. Nevertheless, there are still many attainable ways in which one can easily and efficiently obtain the position and pay they hunger for day in and day out. Here are just a few words of advice to help draw you to the light at the end of the tunnel and set those promotion-worthy aspirations into gear:
There are always tasks to be done, especially in the active worlds of fashion and PR. When you’ve completed a task, instead of scrolling through your Facebook timeline or getting featherbrained amidst the incessant heaps of BuzzFeed articles, ask your boss what you can help with. BE PERSISTENT! If there is a specific assignment or task you want to tackle, don’t wait for the opportunity to fall into your hands – ask to buckle down and plunge into the project head on. For all you know you could be pulled into a larger project, one with more opportunity for insight and growth, which has potential to showcase the capabilities you wouldn’t normally get to expose on a regular basis.
After I graduated from the University of Florida, I was working for an agency in the position of a Junior Publicist. This agency had clients from a multitude of various industries, and these clients were being assigned to me at random. I spoke with my boss and voiced my affinity for fashion in hopes that I could lead any future fashion or beauty accounts we acquired. Fortunately for me, she listened and promoted me to Senior Account Executive for the Fashion and Beauty Department.
Things will not always go as planned, whether it be with client accounts, special events, or any given circumstances for that matter. You have to be able and willing to think on your feet and remain calm in any given situation. Crisis management is a fundamental skill that requires practice and perseverance.
Instead of waiting for instruction and guidance from a superior when the press you pitched are not featuring your client or a model fails to show up to your fashion show, be proactive and devise an alternative strategy to have at hand.
Before any event, consider every aspect that could go awry. Then determine what you will need to do in order to fix the problem. If that particular strategy is not working, move on to an alternative. Individuals are observant and notice when you can observe an obstacle and resolve it quickly without hesitation.
We all have the Negative Nancy in our office – you know, that one unhappy being that is always slouched at their desk, watching the clock, and complaining about the copious amounts of email they receive each day. Do not, I repeat – DO NOT be that person. Smile! Play the advocate and see the glass half-full! Find the positivity in every project and undertaking that comes your way. Prove to your boss and colleagues that you enjoy what you do and that you take pleasure in being a part of their team. Believe me, it will lift not only your spirit, but also the spirits of those around you.
This goes back to my initial point about being helpful. If your sole requirement is to manage social media, but you have the itch to work with full-scale digital campaigns, concoct a mock campaign in your spare time to show your boss that you can handle the challenge and execute it successfully. This demonstrates your willingness to learn and your overall flexibility. Look at the experience as a door opener – it just may prove that you are ready to broaden your horizon. Furthermore, it will give you responsibilities beyond writing 160-character tweets and Facebook posts.
It’s not impossible to be both a team leader and a team player simultaneously, so find the happy medium. Be confident and become cognizant of the behavior of individuals you admire. Most importantly, remain humble and keep a mutual respect with people in your immediate surrounding. Sharing ideas and actively communicating with your colleagues is a great way to show you are a leader and a friend. Another crucial idea to keep in mind is that you are not in a competition with your coworkers. You are there to work with each other, not against each other.
Have a great promotion tip or story? Please tell us in the comments!
Photo via Claire Vivier
