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Competing with a co-worker for a promotion is never easy. There are many challenges that you will have to face. It can be nerve-wracking and you may feel that the eyes of the entire company are focused on you. Of course, that means if you make a mistake and don’t get the promotion everyone will know it, and that can be embarrassing.

It is for these reasons that many people shy away from applying for a promotion because their skills and experiences are pitted against their co-workers, and that’s understandable. When pursuing their corporate development career path some people lose hope and give up.

But what if I told you there was a way to apply for a promotion, handle it like a pro, and improve your chances of getting it improving your corporate development career path?

Let’s have a look at these 4 steps to getting promoted over your co-worker:

1. Explore the Job’s Requirements

You’ve got the job description sitting on your desk, and you think there aren’t any surprises. After all, you know the company well and understand what is required … or do you?

Let’s take a closer look at the list of experiences or qualities that an ideal candidate needs. 

All job descriptions catalog the technical skills and competencies needed to fulfil the role. For example, “be able to work in a challenging environment” maybe listed. It might also say that the successful candidate must be experienced using a whole suite of software programs.

However, if you delve in a little more you will may find that there are certain things missing. These gaps are important to know if you are going to get the promotion.

Let me explain: It doesn’t matter how competent a person might be at using software if they don’t have great interpersonal skills and are able to inspire and manage a team well.

Studying the job description and looking for what is missing, then ensuring that your application addresses them is a sure-fired way to give you the competitive edge.

2. Look at Your Co-Worker as Your Competitor

When looking at your co-worker in a different light it is important not to build up feelings of resentment. Sometime competition can bring out the worst in people’s attitudes, and they end up making enemies.

Let’s approach this step in a more generous mindset rather than a small minded one. That way, if you don’t get the promotion and they do you won’t have made an enemy in a senior position. Alternatively, if you do get the promotion and they don’t, it might be likely that you will still need their cooperation to do your job properly.

Start making notes about each co-worker who is going for the position. List what advantages they have over you, and also their weaknesses. Once you have done this you should know what areas you are at a greater advantage? You’ll also have a clearer picture of what areas you need to improve. Look at ways you can highlight your advantages on your application so they outshine your disadvantages.

3. Compile Your Research

Now that you have information about the position and you have got to know your competitors, it is time to put all of this information together in a chart.

The chart should list both the formal and informal job requirements, as well as, how you size up to your competition on every requirement. It should also include a breakdown of the job description which should be used as a reference point.

Spend some time studying the chart thoroughly. Make sure you haven’t left anything out or put too much emphasize on one thing and not another. Go back to the job description and read it again with this fresh information in front of you.

4. Build Your Strategy

Approach the job application process like you would any other important project. Break the process into stages and build a strategy around each step to ensure that you put yourself in the best light possible.

Once you have updated and re-formatted your resume, it’s time to look at how you are going to approach the interview process.

To make sure you stand out as the better prospect over your co-workers you are going to have to use specific examples to highlight the advantages you have over them. This might be about quoting increases in sales or how successful your projects were.

In this way, you differentiate yourself from the competitor by offering information that is unexpected, yet can definitely be a game changer.

Summary

Now that you have read through this article it is time to start preparing for your next promotion. Don’t wait until the promotion is announced. Start planning it now.

Competing with an internal candidate has its challenges, but being successful is not possible. If you follow these four steps, you’ll still be able to show that you are the best candidate for the promotion.

Good luck!

And always remember:

Great managers are made. Not born. 

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