It’s not easy to climb the corporate ladder, but if you want a great job with excellent rewards, you’ll have to make the climb. If you want to get a promotion, you’ll need to be a team player while also being ambitious and a self-starter.

You need to be certain you are doing your current job to perfection, and then make your wishes known to the right people.

It is helpful if your employer is in a position to allow for promotion. It doesn’t have to be a large multinational, but if the company itself is growing and flourishing, that will improve your chances of promotion. It is difficult to grow your role in a static organisation.

Check you are performing to your full potential in your current role. Strong performance reviews are a must. You also need to be able to demonstrate a good punctuality and attendance record, and little or no sick leave.

Establish a good relationship with your manager and ensure they are aware of your ambitions. Raise your profile, make people aware of you, and ensure that you get credit for your excellent performance. Always be prepared to do more than you have to – go the extra mile.

Tell your manager about your career goals. They should be aware of them from your performance reviews anyway and helping you to achieve them. Keep up the good work in your current position, and don’t become complacent or slip up. If you are interested in a particular job, have a word with the decision maker, whether or not a position has been advertised. Let them know your aspirations.

Even if you have had a word, and they seem amenable to considering promoting you, most companies will need you to undergo the formal application and interview process. This is in the interests of demonstrable fairness, as there will often be external candidates to be considered. But sometimes, if a manager in another department respects you and knows you want to work with them, they will pull strings.

Unfortunately the best person for the job is not always the one who gets the promotion as office politics will sometimes prevail. So you need to hone your people skills and be pleasant and courteous to all. Develop social and professional relationships with colleagues and management

Attend company events, network with people from other departments, either socially by say, joining a quiz team, or get yourself nominated for focus groups. Take on extra company projects to broaden your skills and network with colleagues from other areas of the company. This may be a little out of your comfort zone, but you will be much more visible in the company.

Don’t apply for all opportunities that pay more than your own position or you won’t be taken seriously. Select appropriate opportunities that you are interested in, and that you are qualified to do.