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Careerbuilder has some common sense, but sometimes overlooked advice at how to get ahead in the workplace.

Know Your Stuff

Well, duh. You won’t get promoted if you don’t know enough to do your current job effectively. It also says to find the job you want and fill in the knowledge gaps so that you can get that job. That’s excellent advice and you should try to do it with company time so they know that that is what you are working towards.

Bond With Your Boss

I’m lucky in that I work for a great boss and this step was extremely easy. A lot of people aren’t so lucky and struggle with their relationship with their boss. If you want to get promoted the first person they’ll ask is your boss. If he or she doesn’t like you your chances of being promoted drop like a rock.

Build Your Network

This is important advice whether you are looking to get promoted or looking for a new job. When looking for a new job, it is vitally important as more than half of new hires come from networking, far more than Monster or the newspaper. Unless you are taking your boss’ job, you’ll likely end up with a new boss when you get promoted. If the person who will be your boss knows and likes you, the chance of getting that promotion are much higher than if they don’t know you from Adam.

Know Your Worth

Careerbuilder suggests keeping a portfolio of accomplishments and quantifying any cost savings or revenue enhancements as a result of your accomplishments. I haven’t done that as much as I should, but I keep my monthly and yearly reviews so that I can review what I have worked on. I am able to pull any of the information that I need from the files that are kept for those projects.

Give Off Good Vibes

This one can be especially hard if your workplace is dysfunctional or is obviously slanted towards rewarding upper management. Remember, though, that your goal is to be upper management to get the rewards. It can take everything you have to not be negative, but it could pay off in the long run. Don’t ever be negative to people personally. If you do get promoted, they may be your direct reports and being nice will make things a lot easier.

Get Noticed

Taking on time-consuming and high-visibility projects will make or break your promotion. If you are in the lower echelons of the organization, it will be a reach to get these projects. Reach as often as you can to show how you can handle work above your current position. However, these projects can be risky if you are not looking to move up. A spectacular failure could lead you to looking for a new job. Make sure you do the best job you can if you get a high profile assignment and ask for help if needed to ensure a successful completion.

Look the Part

This is one of those things that’s silly but is important. You cannot dress five steps below your boss if you want to be your boss. Some workplaces are casual and allow jeans, but always make sure to be covered by a higher ranking person before doing so. You don’t want something silly like this getting in your way.

Make Your Own Opportunities

This is really important. Show your ambition and find a niche to fill that’s not currently being filled. When I was promoted, my boss specifically cited two opportunities that I took over because no one else was doing them. I didn’t make a big deal out of it, I just started doing the job and it got noticed. I became the go-to person for these areas, which have become more critical to our area. As their importance has grown, so has mine.

Have Patience

Most young workers (me included) look at the line in front of them and then change jobs. It will take years to move up and patience is needed. You (and I) won’t get to upper management in a day, week, month, year, or even decade. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true. As others jump ship, you may be able to move up through attrition and speed your development.

Be in the Right Place at the Right Time

I hate this suggestion, and I suppose they needed a tenth to round out the list. The description is much more active (put yourself in situations to succeed) but the headline is passive and says that you have to get lucky to get promoted after extolling how to make yourself attractive as a promotional candidate.

Follow these steps and it won’t guarantee a promotion, but it will get you a lot closer than not doing these things. Make them seem natural and they will go all that much further.