A Business Plan for Promotion?

February 7, 2009 6:28 PM

Help an IT consultant write a business case for promotion.

My company holds an annual review for all employees based on their level. I started my job as an IT consultant a few years ago straight out of college. I am one of about a dozen consultants in my office who I will be reviewed against for promotion, and roughly a fourth of us will make the cut. We don't all work on the same projects so our promotion is based on us writing a self assessment of our performance in more general terms, and I wanted to add to this by writing a business case about how if I am promoted, I will benefit our clients, company and co-workers. I am turning to the hive mind for suggestions about how to write a business case for promotion.

Thank you in advance!

TYM

posted by thankyoumuchly to Work & Money (4 answers total)

Saving money is pretty much the priority at most companies these days. I'd imagine you wouldn't want to present anything too fancy unless it's also cheap. Think about how you can present yourself as a good value to the company. "Lean and mean" is the phrase I've been hearing a lot lately. If you do get a promotion, remember how lucky you are.
posted by belau at 6:47 PM on February 7, 2009

I think almost always people are promoted as a result of past performance. Unless the job you'll be promoted into is substantially different from your current job, your best bet is to concentrate on how well you've done in the past few years. My company, which is a software company, promotes retroactively: you are promoted into the job you're doing. If you can make a compelling case that you're already doing the job you want to be promoted into, this will help you greatly. Highlight specific examples of how your responsibility, benefit to the company in general, and cost savings, if applicable, exceeds your current paygrade.

Good luck!
posted by kdar at 8:03 PM on February 7, 2009

Think about whether they've already given you some guidance as to what type of person will make the cut. Make your case based on what they've already described to you. To whatever extent you can, describe tangible results. Use performance metrics, outcomes, and anecdotes to illustrate your case. Review your projects, hours, and utilization rate to help you remember the things you've accomplished. Don't be bashful. In short, your best "business case" at this level may be that you just get more accomplished than your peers.
posted by redarmycomrade at 9:03 PM on February 7, 2009

Your performance is relative to the other consultants' performances, so you should look for areas where you outshine them and where they're weak. Don't call anyone out, obviously, but try to stand out from the rest.

Look at the new job duties that come with the promotion, if any, and try to highlight what you've done with your previous projects that show an aptitude for those duties. Show them that you can do that job.

And I agree with redarmycomradel; it's important to use tangible results and clear examples.
posted by Relic at 10:49 PM on February 7, 2009