Are you getting ready to make a career move?
If you are already set on your career path, you are likely to have been promoted at least once. This achievement shows that you have made an effort to gain specialist skills in your industry.
Being promoted within a company is a significant achievement that can make potential employers sit up and take notice. However, showing this achievement on your resume in the correct way can be tricky.
So, let’s take an in-depth look at how to show a promotion on your resume to secure that next important promotion.
Why You Need To Show Promotions of Your Resume?
Showing the promotions you have earned on your resume shows you are a valuable employee committed to quality work. It highlights the fact that you have special skills that have helped you to thrive in your career. Having earned a promotion shows that you are driven and qualified and helps you to stand out from the crowd.
How To Show A Promotion On Your Resume?
The type of promotion you earned will influence the way you list it on your resume. You also need to take the job duties and whether you stayed at the same company or not into account. However, there is some basic information that applies to all types of situations.
Write the company name
You should always include the full name of every company you have worked for. This helps the hiring manager to verify the information you have supplied, including your job experience.
Include your new job title
Make sure you include the full official titles you have held. This helps to present a clear and detailed picture of your experience.
Show the time span for each role
Make it clear how long you held each role. This is especially important if you have held multiple positions. It helps show the scope of your experience and how quickly you have advanced in your career.
List significant promotions and duties
Earning a promotion shows that you have performed your job well enough to deserve more responsibility. Promotions usually come with increased authority and higher salaries. This is a strong indication that you have advanced skills that will be useful to the company.
The Different Methods
There are three main methods of presenting a promotion on your resume. Each of these comes with pros and cons that should be taken into account. So, here is an overview of the three main methods and the best times to use them.
Stacked Entries
This is a good approach to use when you have been promoted many times within a single company. Although your job title is likely to have changed, your responsibilities are likely to be similar. Stacking your promotions as a list of titles in the same section clearly shows your career progression.
Start by writing out the company’s name and location, and then list the positions you held at the company underneath. Start with the most recent position at the top of the list and set them out in reverse chronological order. List your promotions or recognitions and duties under each position.
Separate Duties
This is the best method when your promotion within the same company involves very different responsibilities. You can visually separate the positions by adding a bulleted list underneath each job. This presents your advanced responsibilities within the same company.
Separate Experience
This is the best method when you have gotten a promotion by moving to a different company. You can also use this method when you have returned to the company at a later date to take on an advanced role. This clearly shows that you have taken the initiative in planning your career to allow you to advance.
Why The Formatting Matters?
When hiring managers review your resume, the main goal is determining if you are a good fit for the position. Therefore, it is essential to make sure your experience and skills are clearly presented. Here are the main things that recruiters are looking for when they review your resume.
Career progression
Even if you are good at your current job, you should always be focused on career growth. Staying in the same role with no clear progression can indicate a lack of ambition. Being promoted shows that you are a valuable asset to a company and will bring expertise to the role.
Stability
However, bouncing around from job to job indicates that you are indecisive and a flight risk. Employers are reluctant to train employees who are likely to leave the company in a few months. Being promoted within the same company shows commitment and loyalty.
Increased capabilities
As you advance in your career, you learn new skills by taking on new responsibilities. This shows employers that you have the ability and desire to continue growing and developing.
ATS-Friendly Formatting Tips
Most companies these days use software called an Applicant Tracking System to review job applications. This system quickly sorts through resumes to save recruiters a lot of time and trouble.
Here are some tips on how to make sure your resume is selected by an ATS:
Include the month and year
Make sure you include both the month and year that you were employed for each position. Even if this reveals an employment gap, you can always explain the gap during the interview.
Only use standard bullet points
Avoid using non-standard bullet points and other quirky design elements when formatting your resume. Asterisks and other types of bullet points can make your resume stand out to human readers. However, the ATS will have trouble reading them and may reject your resume as a result.
Don’t separate sections with columns
Most ATS are unable to analyze information from columns and tables. This means that important employment history information could be overlooked. Stick to separating your employment history with heading sections to avoid this common issue.
How To Prepare For A Promotion Interview?
If you have indicated to your current employer that you are ready to advance, they may offer you a promotion. This allows you to gain an advanced position and salary without having to change companies. Here are some ways to prepare for and ace a promotion interview.
Use your inside information
Use your experience at the company to your advantage by talking about your successes. This can include examples of the goals you have met and successfully completed projects. Take the opportunity to show how you have already helped the company to grow through your unique skills and dedication.
Prepare carefully
Even if you know the interviewer well, approach the promotion interview like you would a standard interview. This means bringing your A-game and preparing for standard interview questions. Be prepared to talk about your full work history as well as your goals for the future.
Make a good impression
This interview is your opportunity to prove that you are the best person for the job. In the weeks before the interview, make sure you give your job your full attention. Doing a great job in your current role is the best way to show that you are a valuable employee.
Make the promotion mutually beneficial
One of the main benefits of in-house promotion for employers is that there is no need to spend time on orientation. Promoting a current employee also makes your manager look good. This shows the upper management that they have taken the time to properly train and nurture employees.
Understand your office reputation
The downside of applying for a promotion is that you don’t have the chance to make a first impression. If you have been working at the company for some time, you are likely to be well-known in the office. Unfortunately, some people may have formed negative impressions of your personality and potential.
It is always difficult to know exactly what people truly think about you. If you have a close friend at the office who you trust, try and pump them for information. Their insight on how other colleagues perceive you can help you to be more prepared for the interview.
Handle potential criticism well
Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, and there are likely to have been times when you performed below par. Take the time to think about times when you missed a deadline or other mistakes you have made. Prepare to talk about these experiences honestly and openly in the interview if they are mentioned.
If the interviewer mentions any negative situations, explain what happened and what you learned from the situation. Explain how you would tackle the situation differently based on what you learned from the experience. Owning up to your mistakes and showing that you have grown as an employee is better than making excuses.
Make it clear you are happy at the company
It is a good idea to lead with the things you like about the company and your current role. This shows the employer that your desire for a promotion is driven by ambition and the need to grow. If you have worked closely with the interviewer, make it clear that you are looking forward to continuing working with them.
Compile a list of your contributions
Take the time to list all the times when you have excelled in your current role at the company. You can also draw on your past success to show that you have always been dedicated to excellence. This can include milestone achievements, training certifications, past performance reviews, recommendations from former managers, and references.
Create an action plan
Map out the way you plan to excel in the new role if you are given the promotion. This can include any special ideas that you want to implement and how you will increase productivity. Make the plan as clear and detailed as possible to show the value you will bring to the role.
Don’t forget to follow up
If you haven’t heard anything after the interview, make sure you take the initiative to follow up. It is important to be proactive without appearing to be overbearing. It is best to send a follow-up email to prevent the interviewer from feeling like they are being hassled.
Know your value
If you are not given the promotion for some reason, you need to assess your options carefully. If you are truly ready to take your career to the next level, don’t let one rejection hold you back. It might be time to start applying to other companies that will recognize your full potential.
More Advice On Resume Writing!
Check out our informative articles on perfecting your CV with our How To Write A Letter of Interest, our How To Write A Letter of Interest, and Motivation Letter Writing Guide, as well as our How To List References On A Resume, or How To List Education On A Resume, and finally our Achievements To List On Your Resume.
Next, we move on to your online resume! We love our LinkedIn and would love to share our advice on How to Use LinkedIn To Find A Job, the best LinkedIn Summary Examples For Job Seekers, or perhaps How To Message A Recruiter On LinkedIn, and most importantly, How To Let Recruiters Know You’re Open On LinkedIn to help get you noticed!
In regards to our research, we found excellent guides such as the Expert Resumes and Linkedin Profiles for Managers & Executives, and CVs, Resumes, and LinkedIn: A Guide to Professional English, along with the How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile, and of course the ever-popular LinkedIn For Dummies, and LinkedIn Profile Optimization For Dummies all available online in 2023.
Final Thoughts
Highlighting a promotion on your resume shows that you have made an effort to advance your career.
Whether you are searching for a new position in your existing company or a new one, it is sure to impress employers. This is the best way to show that you have made the most of your career and are a valuable asset. Formatting is everything when it comes to creating your resume.
You need to make sure that all the information you present is as clear and impactful as possible. Keep your resume design consistent and always take care to edit it carefully.
All the best and congratulations on your Promotion!
