Advice on Moving Up or Gaining New Responsibilities at a Small Organization Even When a Promotion Seems Unlikely  

Often, when people interview for or inquire about a new position, they’ll ask, “Will I have opportunities for promotions or personal advancement?” With smaller companies, the answer is usually “no” — or sometimes the only position to move up into would be that of your boss. Not generally a good way to start a new job! Other times, you may find yourself stuck in a position that is listless, professionally speaking, and you don’t see any open opportunities to move up.

Personal and professional growth on the job helps to increase your knowledge of your field, elevate your standing in the organization, and enhance your self-worth. If you find yourself faced with limited opportunities to advance your career at your current job, and aren’t ready to look for a new one quite yet, try these six tips:

• Update your Job Description. At your next performance review, come to your boss with an updated job description to show what responsibilities you’ve taken on in addition to what you are actually required to do in your position. Also, seek out other teams at your company and see if there are areas where your skills align with their needs. This will not only prove your worth to the company, but it will also show your desire to leverage your skills and increase your value.
• Try Asking for an External Title Change. When there are only limited positions within your department (or perhaps you are the only one in your department), and management is not able to hand out an official promotion, ask if they will instead approve an external title change. You could go from “Manager” to “Director” and not cost the company anything but a new set of business cards. This will enhance your resumé and show upward mobility, which is especially important if you’ve been with the company for more than five years with no change in your title.
• Network, network, network! Getting out of the office and meeting others in your field or in your position is the best way to advance your career. Even if you aren’t sure what job opportunities are available, you won’t know unless you ask around. Oftentimes, the best connections are found through word-of-mouth. Make an impression by reaching out to someone you know at a company you’ve had your eye on. If you don’t know anyone personally, try a connection on LinkedIn. You’ll be surprised at how helpful people can be when you just ask!
• Go Back to School. Just taking one or two classes can be beneficial to both your mind and your reputation. Signing up for an online course at an established brick-and-mortar college or university is easy and relatively inexpensive. Some companies might even provide tuition reimbursement as part of their professional development benefits. Look for courses that are in your field of work or in a similar line that will help you improve your skills, knowledge and ability to do your job well. Or perhaps you’ll find a course in a field in which you are not yet adept, but would like to use to launch a new career path.
• Find a Mentor. Looking for someone to personally help you grow in your career is a big task and sometimes hard to find. Local professional organizations in major cities across the U.S. offer a great way to connect with others and generally offer morning, lunch and evening social events to match your schedule. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce and consider joining their professional membership group. If finding a mentor seems too daunting, find a “one day mentor” by asking a leader in your field for an informational interview. You’ll learn valuable insight into their company and what they do, while gaining knowledge for your own growth.
• Join a Board or Committee — or Volunteer! To help enhance your resumé and gain valuable experience, seek out nonprofits and consider joining one of their committees, or even their Board of Directors or Advisory Board (the latter is less formal than the Board of Directors, plus you’ll have more opportunities to provide your expert advice!).

Volunteering is also a great way to do good, and feel good while doing it! Not sure where to look? Try VolunteerMatch.org – search by zip code or cause for both local and virtual opportunities.

The point is, you have the power and ability to promote yourself even when you don’t immediately see an opportunity to do so. Look hard. Reach for connections and paths forward. If your desire is to go forward, don’t be complacent and accept your current role. You can create a way to move up in your career!