There’s a study that shows men are more likely to apply for a job when they meet 60 percent of the qualifications, while women wait to apply until we meet 100 percent of the qualifications. We don’t even throw our name into the ring for consideration to be rejected!

As women, we also often wait to be recognized and asked to take on a new role or promotion, instead of taking the initiative to apply or ask for ourselves. Some firms and companies are set up to promote workers regularly on a structured promotion schedule where you work a certain number of years and then automatically get bumped up a grade level or moved into a management role. Other companies and firms have less formal processes that can offer more flexibility to get promoted on your own schedule and merit.

Regardless of the structure in your company, if you’re considering applying or asking for a promotion or a new role internally, here are a few tips and tricks to get that conversation started!

Research the requirements for the role you want

Before you can apply for a promotion, you need to know what the role consists of and what the decision makers will be looking for in filling the role. Some organizations have internal job listings or list core competencies you need to meet to be considered for a promotion.

In addition to these written materials, see if you can talk to your boss and someone already in that position to get their input on what it takes to be eligible for this role. Sometimes, organizations have unspoken requirements or preferences that don’t always make it into HR approved documents. If you're going to apply for a position, you need to be able to show you know what the position entails and that you meet the job requirements.

Ask your sponsor to speak up for you

Sometimes, we assume people know what we want out of our career or what the next step is for us, but generally they don’t. They’re not going to think of you unless they know you’re seeking to grow and be considered for those options.

A partner at my firm shared that when she had been passed over multiple times for promotions to leadership roles within the firm, she finally asked her managing partner why. His response? “We didn’t know you were interested.” And here she was working so hard to be noticed and chosen, but missing that crucial step to actually communicate what she wanted next in her career.

For example, talk to your sponsor or manager and tell them: “I want to move into a leadership role eventually [or insert the role you want to work towards being promoted to]. Can you please speak up on my behalf when it is appropriate? Here are some of my recent accomplishments [share briefly and offer to list these in an email.]”

Ask for what you want and tell them what you need from them to help you get there. You can be the greatest worker in the room but if no one is talking about you, it is very hard to advance. And remember, even the most intelligent people and the best of leaders are not mind readers!

Look for opportunities to make yourself visible across the company

Volunteer for projects that involve multiple departments or look for other opportunities to get you exposed to a variety of people and practices within your company. For example, even being on an event planning committee or volunteering to help with training or recruiting will often put you in a position to network with people outside of your core team and department.

Raise your hand for these types of initiatives that give you a chance to improve your visibility within the firm/company or take on a leadership role, even if it is not the most exciting work. This shows that you’re a team player and a leader, gets your name out there, and also shows you as a critical part of the infrastructure of a company.

On that note, don’t pigeonhole yourself based on your job title. If there’s an opportunity to sit in on a meeting or take on a project in a different area of your company, do it. You’ll grow your knowledge and your skill set and you’ll leave a lasting impression on coworkers and senior staff.

Talk about your work

When was the last time you told your boss what you accomplished recently? Like, bragging on your work and how it brought value to the company? It is easy to think, “Oh, but I’m just doing my job.” Yet, I guarantee there is a guy in your company also just doing his job, but he is telling his boss about what he’s working on, the ideas he has and how hard he’s working on his most recent projects.

Get in the habit of updating your boss about what you’re working on and the value it is bringing to the company. People are busy with their own jobs, so no one is likely monitoring your every accomplishment, which means you are your biggest champion. Don’t just wait for your annual performance review to share your successes!

When preparing for a promotion, bring a career placemat to your performance evaluations and promotion conversations. A career placemat is basically a snapshot of your accomplishments and what you bring to the table. This could include positive feedback you received from co-workers, past performance evaluations, client testimonials, a list of projects and tasks you accomplished that brought value to the company, and anything else that highlights your successes and strengths to show you have what it takes to get the job done.

The most proactive people win

The people who get ahead are the ones who think outside the box. They don’t just do things because that’s the way they’ve always been done, but instead look for new areas of opportunity and improvement, not only in their work, but for their team and company too. Being able to think one step ahead of everyone else will serve you well in your career. Here is what this can look like:

Pay attention to the people and problems you’re dealing with to notice patterns or potential pitfalls. Then offer solutions.
Communicate so your boss and colleagues don’t have to chase you to get information. Update your people early and often, like when a task is finished or if a project is delayed. Because corporate professionals love status updates on everything, and often!
Identify undervalued areas in your company and provide value by thinking like the CEO to identify potential new lines of business or cost-saving measures.

Think resourcefully

The key to being resourceful is looking at all the ways you can solve a problem. We all run into obstacles and “No” for an answer in our work. Maybe it’s not having enough resources (people, time or money) to finish a project or a client doesn’t like any of the dozen ideas your team pitched. Developing a skill set to think of creative solutions or alternative options is what will set you apart and get you ahead.

If you enjoyed this, sign up for my weekly newsletter for women who want integrate family, work & growth!