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Promotion Tips You Can Steal From a Management Consultant
Strategies from a former management consultant to get you a promotion
I was sitting in my senior manager’s office. The promotion email had just been sent out that morning and my name had noticeably (I noticed!) not been on the email. Although if your counsellor (the person you work with to get promoted) had not already mentioned it to you (because management and higher-ups knew about the promotions first), you probably weren’t getting promoted.
Management consulting firms have a two-year up-or-out policy — either you were promoted within two years or were shown out the door. It was my third year as a consultant and I was worried. It wasn’t a hard and fast rule by any means but one that all consultants knew about.
“What’s going on?” I asked my senior manager. “Why are these people (I listed several colleagues who were at the same level and had the same years of experience as I did at the level) getting promoted?”
My senior manager closed his office door and sat me down to share invaluable lessons for getting promoted. I think they will help you no matter whether you’re in a firm or not.
