CAREER SPECIAL...Five Ways To Promote Yourself the Right Way

Five Ways To Promote Yourself the Right Way 

In Today’s workplace, it’s no longer enough to just sit back and let your work do the talking. If nobody notices the good work you are delivering, chances are high you won’t get the recognition that is due. It’s no secret: you have to promote yourself to get ahead. How to do it without it coming across as bragging.

1 Network Actively
Build a strong network of sponsors. “Identify key people in the network and reach out to them, proactively leveraging relationships and influencing agendas,” says Bhavna Kumar, senior talent acquisition manager - wholesale banking, HR, Standard Chartered Bank. She also suggests joining and participating actively in networking groups both within and outside the organisation. 2 Create Opportunities
Look for areas or situations where you can apply your expertise to yield results. Approach your boss and tell him/her about it and how the company stands to gain.

3 Be Genuine
While self-promotion is becoming increasingly important for success, there should be more to it than just empty words or gestures. Experts say that after a point, it’s easy to see through those people who keep going on about how much they’ve accomplished without having something real to back it up. People should know you have it in you to bring what you claim to the table.

4 Share Experiences
Says Kumar: “Do this as 'best practice sharing' with your colleagues: talk about your projects, teams, experiences and the value they delivered to the organisation.”

5 Volunteer for Projects
It’s a good idea to volunteer to be ahead of the curve . “This would show you have the initiative and the ability to deliver,” says Kumar.

Sreeradha D Basu ET20JUL12