You’ve earned it. You deserve it. It’s finally here. No, not a vacation. A promotion! Receiving acknowledgement for your skill, effort, and value to the college feels great. A promotion is a good thing…right?
In a perfect world, a promotion brings the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways, a new title, salary increase, and other benefits. It goes against common thought that accepting a promotion may not be the right thing to do. More money, more influence, a greater ability to get things done. What more do you want?
Before you sign the contract, here are 3 things to consider when determining whether moving up is right for you, right now.
Do you want the job?
Or, do you like the idea of a promotion? There’s a lot of fanfare surrounding a promotion, the excitement is exhilarating. However, that doesn’t last long. Be sure that you have a genuine interest and curiosity about the position and are ready to make a commitment to giving the day to day duties your best effort.
Are you informed?
What are the short and long-term expectations of you? Often there’s the posted position description, then there’s what they actually want you to do, and oh wait, there’s what you must do immediately. Having candid conversations with your boss and other stakeholders is an important part of taking on new responsibilities. These talks can be uncomfortable but they lessen the likelihood of misunderstandings or a feeling of being ‘duped’ into a role other than what was on paper. Equally important is knowing what’s fair compensation for the position. Determine the value of the work to your institution and in the market. Every institution is looking to maximize efficiencies. Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean that you take on a new portfolio for a congratulatory handshake from the dean and new business cards.
Does accepting the promotion bring you closer to where you want to be?
Your professional goals might be to move up, earn more money, or achieve greater work-life balance. Does the promotion bring you closer to achieving your goal? “Closer” can take on many forms. It isn’t limited to a position that is a clear stepping stone to your dream job. Closer could mean that you will learn a valuable skill, work alongside campus decision makers, or get a bump in salary that allows you to cover the costs of continuing your education. For these reasons, use the offer as a time to pause and think about where you want to be and if it helps you get there.
“Yes” was my answer each time a promotion came my way. All in all, I don’t regret that but being clearer on my professional path or understanding my value could have served me well. Take your time and thoroughly consider the offer put before you. That will make it easy to answer yes, yes, and yes to the questions above and get on with wowing them with your talents!
What do you consider before accepting a promotion? On the other hand, what might make you decline one? Tell me about it in the comments.
> BONUS <
Podcast With Kyle James on Student Leadership Careers
