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HOW TO GET A PROMOTION IN CANADA
In Canada, in order to get a promotion to a better position, you have to do the following: build relationships, learn new skills, take on extra duties, and communicate your desire to move up. When your management sees that you have more skills than your present job requires, you have a chance of getting a promotion. In many other countries, if you want to get promoted, you need to work hard. When they see you are doing one job well, they will trust you to do another one well too. The two systems are different and the newcomers need to be aware of the steps they need to be taking in order not to be bypassed for promotion.
1. Build Relationships
The single most important thing you can do if you want to move to a better position is to network! Master the art of Small Talk and make a good impression on whomever you meet. You need to build good relationship with your manager, other managers within the organization and all the higher-ups (VP, CEO, Director, etc.) What is even more important, is that you should seek out these opportunities to show who you are to those people. Staying quiet and working hard will get you nowhere – people will not know who you are. So speak up at the meetings, be positive, outgoing, share ideas and meet new people. In Canada, it is perfectly acceptable for a lower ranking employee to strike up a conversation with anybody in the managerial position. Participate in all company’s events, even – and especially – those after work hours. Network, network, network!
When talking to people, do not be afraid to bring up your accomplishments. In some cultures, it is absolutely unacceptable to praise yourself – only others can do it. However, in Canadian culture, people will look at you as a good communicator who knows his or her worth.
To learn about what topics are considered acceptable for networking and small talk, click ‘What Canadians Talk About: Topics to Avoid‘. In order to network successfully, you need to make sure you are not breaking any cultural norms.
2. Learn New Skills
If you want to work in a different position in the future, learn what skills are required for that position and start learning them now. In Canada, you have to first demonstrate that you already have the skills and only then you will get a chance to use them. There are many transferable skills that can be used in various jobs, including using various computer software. Be curious, learn and make sure you mention that to others, for example: “It’s so exciting what I just learned/learning now…”
3. Take on Extra Duties
This is how you can learn new skills and show the management what you are capable of. ‘Extra’ means in addition to your regular duties. These are going to be things that some people refuse to do saying ‘It’s not my job.’ Be smarter than them – take this opportunity. It might require certain time investment but these are the skills you can later add to your resume. So when a manager asks for somebody to help them with XYZ, be that person who jumps at the opportunity to do it – even if you have no idea how to. We often learn by doing or while doing. After accepting the extra task, look for someone who can teach you how to do it or do some research online or Youtube and figure it out by yourself.
4. Communicate your Desire to Move up
The last but not the least is to communicate your desire to move up. In Canada, it is important to let people know what you want, otherwise they will assume you are happy in your current role. ‘Moving up’ does not necessarily mean becoming a manager or a supervisor. In Canadian companies, there is a lot of lateral movement with a company where people change within the organization to a position at a similar level to the one being left. People do it for various reasons, for example to build their resume, learn new things, change things up if they are tired or bored in the previous position, etc. You need to make a plan of where you want to move to, figure out what skills are required and learn them, and talk to the right people about your ambitions.
Final tip
Network within your organization and outside of your organization as well. For more on how to network in Canada, read ‘6 Networking Rules for Immigrants’.
Read next:
Talking to your Manager and Co-workers