As the end of the pandemic is finally nearing, many workers are returning to their job, and many companies have openings in positions they were forced to terminate due to the pandemic. If you’re someone who believes you qualify for an advanced potion in your company, don’t be shay about it! There is, however, a right and wrong way to go about everything, and this article will explore 3 “Dos” and 3 “Don’ts” when you approach your management team about asking for a promotion.

Do: Display Your Qualifications

“I’ve been here for five years” is not a good enough reason to ask for a promotion in today’s competitive business market. You need to show what you’ve done that was beyond your current scope of work, and also what you’ll be willing to do beyond the scope of the next-level position.

Lists are always great, and preparing an easy-to-read list your boss can reference while you vocally share your points of pride within the company. There is a chance your boss may like enough and ask you to move on, so be sure to put your proudest achievements first, and work your way down. Also remember to put yourself in the shoes of a boss when deciding which things to list first. Something that made the company a lot of money may qualify higher than something that made you feel personally more accomplished, but do be sure to share the feelings of personal accomplishment, too, as it shows confidence.

Don’t: Wait Around

If you think you’re qualified, you probably are. But you getting a promotion is, indeed, money out of the company pocket at the end of the day. Not too many bosses go around willingly offering people more money or promotions of any sort, so don’t think good things are coming no matter how close or friendly you and your boss might be. Asking for a promotion is a professional skill in and of itself, as is knowing when is a right time to talk about the promotion. Don’t pressure too much but know your worth and make a meeting happen.

Do: Have a Company-First Tone

Though the meeting is ultimately about you, make sure you convey the message that the company is the big winner if you get promoted. By increasing your responsibilities, the business also wants to ensure you can increase your value, and the word “value” is a good one to mention a few different times throughout the process. Make the deciding minds believe that your responsibilities and financial increase will be sound investments resulting in more revenue and advancement in the long run.

Don’t: Compare Yourself to Colleagues

Most bosses have a pretty concrete mindset as far as how they view a given employee and that employee’s strengths and weaknesses. If you compare yourself to coworkers, it could be perceived as putting them down, which is not a team-first mindset. It also could result in a manager correcting you if that manager knows things about your colleague that you do not… and that’s not a good start when looking for a promotion. Talking about others also takes away from the aforementioned company-first tone.

Finally: Know Your Worth

Do research about competitors and try to figure out what someone in a similar position as the one you are applying for would receive as compensation. This would be the time to suggest salary negotiations, and if you’re a woman, this is also the time to point out any sort of pay discrepancies that may exist for women in your field. But do be sure to back up any discrepancies you find!

For the same reasons that is important to prepare for your promotion discussion, on the whole, it is just as important to prepare to discuss compensation. It requires research and confidence, but if you believe you deserve something and have evidence as to why, go for it.