Newly Corporate

I cannot understate the importance of self promotion. This is not bragging. This is not arrogance. This is responsible career management. Performance is job number one. Self promotion should be your second priority. Everything else is a distant third. Here are five things you can do to become a master of self promotion.

1. Start thinking in terms of achievements. Your boss has no idea what you are up to. It is your job to communicate your achievements to your boss. Here’s what I do:

- Start a notepad doc called “internal resume 2007″
- Every time you accomplish something (actually finish a task), write an entry. Start the entry with the date. Say what you did, them summarize why it was important. You’ll get extra points if you show that you understand the business impact of your achievements.
- At some interval, summarize this document and send it to the two managers above you (your boss and that person’s boss). I recommend doing this quarterly. Do it at least once per year.

2. Use linkedin.com. There are three benefits here.

- People who already use linkedin.com will see that you too are hip to this trend and they will surely join your network.
- Your resume will always be up-to-date. This will allow you to market yourself internally and to headhunters.
- You will impress those who are not yet using linkedin.com with your amazing career savvy. To them, you will look one step ahead. This is a good position to be in.

3. Volunteer. The best possible volunteer job is planning the holiday party. You can’t lose. Everyone loves a party. Just make sure that you are in charge. No one ever promotes the party planner’s assistant.

4. Be explicit. Tell your direct manager and your Human Resources representative that you are interested in moving into a role with expanded responsibilities. Tell them you are willing to attend training or lead a new initiative. In fact, you should propose training. Find they key trend in your industry and learn as much as you can about it. If there is any kind of certification, ask them to pay for your training and the test.

5. Find a niche. Your goal should be to become THE go to person for something. It works best if this something is work-related, but it doesn’t have to be. If you love cell phones and are always recommending this phone or that service plan to your co-workers, the boss may come to you when it is time to decide which carrier to go with for the new corporate cell phone plan. That, my friend, is opportunity knocking. Answer the door.