8 Things You Should Be Doing to Earn Your Next Promotion

Today was my first day back at work!  Leaving my baby at home for 8 hours was possibly the hardest thing I've had to do as a parent so far, but I know it will be nice to be back in the office.  I haven't shared a whole lot about what I do here on the blog, and I always say there is no time like the present!
I started working for a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company in June of 2015.  I had just moved back from Las Vegas and I was wanting a summer job to keep me busy and put some money in my pocket.  I never expected I would still be there over a year later, but I ended up working really hard and getting promoted very quickly. Within a few weeks I was placed on a tier 2 team and training other representatives.  Shortly after that, I became the trainer and as the company has grown, so has my position.  I owe each promotion I've gotten to each of these secrets to success below.

8 Things you should be doing to earn your next promotion

1// Dressing to impress.

My grandma told me when I was younger that you should always dress for the job you want, not for the job you have.  I really don't even know why she told me that.  I didn't get my first job till after she passed away.  But let me tell you, she was right.  Dressing professionally even when you don't HAVE to will get you noticed.  I know of employees who were promoted based on the fact that they always looked the part.   Dress one grade fancier than you're required.  If you wear a uniform make sure every hair is in place, you're clean shaven, and you don't look like you just rolled out of bed.  Use an iron and for the love of all that is working, brush your teeth.  

2// Showing your worth

Employers want to see that you're valuable.  They want to be able to put you in a position and see that you can excel no matter where they place you.  When you're given the opportunity to give input, do so.  If you have a chance to make a suggestion or affect change, don't wait to be asked! Showing that you're valuable is extremely important to earning your next promotion.
 Always do your best work.  Even if you're doing something extremely easy and below your skill level.  If you're given a task that requires a more efficient process, implement it and share your results when you're finished.  The proof will be in the work you produce. 

3// Going the extra mile

Doing the bare minimum is never going to get you noticed.  In fact, it will make you invisible. Aiming for exceptional is what will get you noticed.  Set yourself apart from other employees by impressing a client or customer with your customer care skills, your knowledge, or your efficiency.  Take any and all chances to participate in work activities.  This shows a sense of community in the work place which is important for supervising and management.  If you're working with a client or a customer, do your very best to ensure they have the best possible experience.  Who knows, they may even leave you a positive review!

4//  Showing up

Showing up to work is half the battle.  It's important that you're there when you're scheduled.  If your attendance is poor or you frequently request time off, you'll look as if work is not a priority and you won't be there to handle more responsibility.

5// Showing your willingness to learn

Being teachable is very important.  You may think you know everything there is to know about your job, but there is always more you can learn.  

6// Being kind and sociable

Being in management or supervising a team is very different than being a team member.  Of course you still need to able to do the tasks you ask of your team, but there is more to it than that.  You should be a trusted resource for your colleagues.  Employers like to see that you can interact with other well and build rapport. 

7// Following the rules

This is a no brainer, however, if you're an overachiever, this may be harder than you think.  For example, if you're policy is that each department handles different aspects of a customer's experience then you should only provide them with what you are permitted to provide.  If they need something another department should do, allow them to do so.  Breaking rules, even if it's to help a customer, is not going to be received well. 

8//  Being a team player 

This can have a lot of different meanings.  To me, being a team player is mostly about being observant and listening to others.  Recognizing that team work makes the dream work is an important part of being a valuable employee.   I'll leave you with a bonus tip for earning your next promotion:  Always take a chance.  If your employer posts a listing that you're interested in, apply.  They can't promote you if they don't know who you are!  I work for a smaller company where everyone knows everyone.  I didn't need an interview to get my job, but you probably will! And if at first you don't succeed, keep on trying! It's so important not to give up.  The more your boss sees you in the interview chair, the more likely you are to earn a promotion.  

Sun-Kissed and Fancy-Free

Real Talk: 
It's only my third day back at work and I don't wanna go.  Bad News, Bears. 
It isn't really that I don't like my job, it just feels so...static. Static is something I'm not really a fan of. Lately, I'm all about constant forward motion, and that job just doesn't seem like it's in motion at all.  On the bright side, I'm making money.  Money is nice. 
My first week back in the "real world" hasn't bee so bad though.  It's only been a few weeks, but I really missed civilian clothes. Cute, fancy, civilian clothes. I don't really wear a ton of make up, but I missed that too. My aunt got me an adorable outfit.  I was so excited to put it together.  Please don't judge that mirror. It's like 25 years old...It's not getting any cleaner than that.  And can I just say, fashion designers need to realize that not everyone runs around with the flattest bum in the world. Skirts should be longer in the back.
Even more than that, I was excited to feel the sun on my shoulders. I'm nearly convinced that I need to pick up and move myself to some place where I will constantly bear sun-kissed skin.  I don't really tan well, but If I don't stay out too long, I get just enough color to be happy all the time. 
Sadly, now is not a good time to pick up my life and move away, so I'll stay here for now, but until then I'm going to thoroughly enjoy this sunshine. If I complain about it being hot even once, please someone remind me about the winter. That horrible, terrible, no-good cold...

That Adulthood Though...

Remember that goal about blogging every weekday?  I suck.  But seriously, if you knew about my work schedule you would understand. If I want to do anything after work, I kind of have to sacrifice the blogging. Not only that, I am so boring!  Lucky for you all, I've been brainstorming things to talk about, and I've finally got a few things to say. Hopefully these idea will get me through the week.  Oh, and my friend Ashley  wrote an awesome post today about being a closet blogger. Go read it, it makes me seem really awesome. :)

1)  You have to get up and go to work. 

2) When you don't have to get up and go to work, you have to go to the bank, pay your bills, clean something, get the oil changed...it never stops. 

3)  When you go out on dates, you have to consider the possibility of forever. 

4) I no longer play around on facebook and twitter when I'm on my phone. Instead, I check my credit report and bank account. 

5) My life is dictated by this thing 

6) I get tired before 11 o'clock at night. 

7)  You have to get up and go to work. 

8)  I budget. For fun. 

9) I have to make plans in advance. Spontaneity is dead. 

10) I feel rich when I've got about this many moneys. 

Although my blogging goals aren't doing so well, I can't remember the last coke I had. I haven't had a soda in about two weeks I think.  I've been working hard in the gym, and my life is already so much better for it.  I highly recommend it if you're a slave to the soda pop.  

I hope you all are finding away to forget your adulthood this weekend. I'm going to be working hard, playing soldier and pretending I know what I'm doing. It's gonna be great I'm sure. 
Happy Friday. 

Particularly Shallow Benefits

I know. It's 8:52 and I haven't blogged today. I'm a failure. But I'm still getting it done which makes me cool anyway, right?
Today I worked from 12:00 to 8:15.  I have trained for 2 days and today I was on the phones by my self making calls and taking calls.  I freaking love it.  I didn't have to sit in a class forever learning the same crap over and over, I don't beg the minute hand to move faster, and today my boss brought everyone in the office a Frosty. If that isn't a pretty good job, I don't know what is. I got my schedule for the rest of the month and I'm so grateful to be employed...I don't care if I have to pretend I'm a workaholic for a while. 
And get this, blog, you will never believe it, unless you occasionally glance at my tweets...I go on dates.  In the past few weeks, I've been on more dates than I even care to admit. I've seen nearly every movie that is playing in the theaters and I've been eating out like a whole lot.  For free. One major and particularly shallow benefit of the dating scene.  
I'm really enjoying it, I've been out with a lot of really nice guys and I'm learning a lot about myself and about guys...I'm busy pretty much every night. I love it. 
I feel extremely scattered right now and I don't even know how to put this post together...so I think I'm just going to stop.  Life is good 
   

Slim Jims Do Not a Lunch Make

First day of work! First day of work!
Okay, so the first day of work was yesterday, but I'm writing about it today, so the exclamation seems appropriate. 
Of course, I arrived over 30 minutes early. I knew there would be zero traffic yet I left a solid 45 minutes early anything. Facebook told me that it's a woman thing...So of course, I sat in the car and took several first-day-of-work selfies for days...
There are about four more similar to this...I'm cool. I know.
While the work wasn't hard, it was quite overwhelming to learn so much stuff. I was catching on pretty quick and I think it's going to be a good fit for me! I'm still excited about it, so that is a good sign. 
Unfortuantely, I wasn't smart enough to bring a lunch, or even money for a lunch...I ended up eating random things I found in my car. My lunch consisted of a Slim Jim, some sour gummy worms, and wint-o-green Life Savers. Whle I quite like each of those things, I think that I'll make sure I have a lunch today!

I get to go and play big-bad Army swoldier this weekend. It has been ages since I ran around in my combat boots, so I'm not totally broken up about it.  It's just a part of that life.  I may or may not have some exciting new about the Army by the end of the weekend, but I'm not quite sure yet. Just cross your fingers and hope for good things!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week, for now I must go, but you will see me again if I am not enveloped by the insanity that is every-day life.

Here's to not getting swallowed up in da real world.