Being promoted at work - what makes you stand out

[Movedtothedge]

I’m particularly interested to hear from a manager or HR’s perspective on what makes an employee stand out as worthy of promotion, or if you are employing someone new but they don’t have the experience/skills, why did you decide to employ them?

I’m looking to return to work after several years as a SAHM and my memories of the company I was with for ten years are of colleagues mostly being promoted because they were particularly liked or their face fit. This was a widely held view in the office - not just my opinion. Some promotions were successful and others not (some demoted etc).

I wanted to progress at work but I was always over-looked or never got the job I applied for internally (applied for 3-4 over ten years). I asked to be put forward for relevant projects or training but never was despite pushing for it.

My performance reviews were always excellent without exception, great feedback from both internal staff and our customers. So there was never any question of my ability, worked hard over and above, loyal, always ready to help the team, and yet never got beyond the first internal interview. I always got on well with managers and colleagues, both in my department and others. Made quite a few friends over the years, never a gossip or the office cow, but clearly I was giving off the wrong impression somehow. I became so demoralised and it’s put me off returning to the type of job I was doing.

Can you tell me please what makes you consider a current employee and what doesn’t?

Unfortunately I think in some places it's just a question of your face fitting.
I have progressed quite quickly in a role I've had for the last few yrs, I'm good at it, always make myself available & get on well with my colleagues. Having said that I know my face fits.

I consider the ones that work hard, use initiative rather than having to be spoon fed, are enthusiastic, aren’t necessarily the fastest but accurate and thorough, that volunteer for things a little outside their remit (like being a first aider for example), that show willing to help out with things that aren’t necessarily theirs to do, being a team player.

I don’t consider people who have an inflated sense of themself, aren’t a team player, not willing to go the extra mile, complain a lot

I agree with what others are saying. Coming from a company that really supports internal recruitment, I think it also comes down to reliability: Senior managers like to be able to give you work and trust that it will get done and that you can resolve any problems encountered without assistance.
I do think however that sometimes it's about those above you and how much they like you. They have the ability to open and close doors to opportunity.
I also think it's about team structure too, and if the individuals high up in teams constantly reassess the needs of the team then opportunities to advance arise far more regularly.

Well at my work place, it means being male & white.