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Want to choose a job that will allow you to move up the ladder? If you’re the kind of person who draws motivation from potential for increased responsibilities, workload, salary and opportunities, you’ll want to evaluate potential job offers with an eye to advancement. Here’s how.

Seven steps to choosing a job with advancement potential
1.    Set a career goal, as part of your overall career planning.
2.    Figure out the steps to meeting that goal.
3.    Identify experiences, skills, education, training, job titles, and opportunities that will help you advance through each step.
4.    Determine your priorities in advance. Although you may have an ultimate career goal, you may be willing to make trade offs during certain parts of your life or for certain perqs.
5.    Assess your own promotion potential. Take a look at how you stack up against the factors involved in progressing through each step toward your career goal.
6.    Take a good look at the company. Review the size, frequency of job openings, politics, attitudes, mentorship opportunities, training, etc.
7.    Take time to evaluate the job offer. Try using a job assessor tool to evaluate the basics. What’s the next job title in the career path at this company? How have people in your position progressed before? How long have previous employees stayed in this position? How does the company value the characteristics you offer?

Managing your own career advancement potential
If you really like the job offer but the advancement potential falls short or you think you’re not likely to be promoted, you can take steps to improve the situation. Consider:
•    Pursuing training and education opportunities
•    Finding a mentor to help you gain information and career guidance
•    Volunteering for special projects to build your skills and your contacts
•    Networking to build relationships with people who can better evaluate your offering
•    Building your reputation by speaking at conferences, writing articles, making presentations and volunteering
•    Honing your people skills, so that you can communicate, lead and negotiate more effectively

Have the confidence to be your own agent. By taking charge of your own career, you’ll be in a better position to make informed decisions – and to guide your own outcomes. 

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•    Professional development tips
•    The interview’s over…now what?