"Nu at the U" from the Principal Financial Group Encourages Professionals to Prove Themselves Promotion-Worthy
February 11, 2008 (Des Moines, Iowa)
About "Nu @ the U"
"Nu @ the U" is an advice column written for young professionals navigating the unknown waters of internship and career. The workplace column addresses the most timely and common questions received by the national college recruiting staff of the Principal Financial Group®. University newspapers are encouraged to run "Nu @ the U" in their campus publications at no charge.
Columns are written by Nu Huynh, college recruitment consultant at The Principal® and made available Oct. 2007-May 2008. The column debuted on Jan. 24, 2007. To view past "Nu @ the U" columns, visit http://www.principal.com/careers/nu/index.htm.
Dear Nu,
I've been in my first job for over a year now, and I still haven't gotten a promotion. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if this company is just slow to promote. Any advice? -- Stuck on the Corporate Ladder
Dear Stuck: Let's take a little self-help quiz. Peruse the following statements.
- I've been too busy to take the lead on new projects.
- People at work would not describe me as a "go getter."
- I don't pay a lot of attention to my on-the-job appearance.
If any of that sounds eerily familiar, you may be your own worst enemy. If you want that promotion, put extra effort into everything you do—whether it's taking the initiative, putting in extra time when needed or dressing for success.
If you feel that you're already going the extra mile, have a chat with your manager. Take a low-key approach to the conversation (in other words, demanding, "Why haven't you given me a promotion yet?!" is probably not the best idea).
Instead, ask for feedback on your performance and find out if there's anything else you should be doing. To butcher a perfectly good quote from John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your company can do for you—ask what you can do for your company."
Also, do your research. Find out what the typical career path is for someone in your position. It could be that you simply haven't gained enough on-the-job experience yet—especially if you're in a highly technical or complex business.
Continue to prove yourself by asking for additional responsibilities and showing that you're willing to take on new challenges. Volunteering for company charity drives or corporate committees is another way to showcase your skills—not just to your own manager but also to leaders across the organization.
If you've done all this and still aren't moving up, it may be time to move on—either to another department or to a different company. But remember establishing a track record of success and stability will eventually pay off, so don't go jumping jobs every year — at least not from one company to the next. After that, dust off your resume and start climbing!
Nu Huynh is the lead campus relations consultant at the Principal Financial Group. She travels the country looking for the best and brightest recruits. To find the career or internship you're looking for, visit www.principal.com/careers/visits.htm.
