Working Harder Won't Get You Promoted, Here’s What Will + Career Advice Myths - Episode 021
If you’ve ever watched someone else get promoted and thought, “Wait… why not me?!” — this one’s for you.
It turns out that climbing the career ladder isn’t always about being the loudest in the room or having the flashiest projects. In fact, the habits that actually move your career forward are often the ones nobody’s posting about on LinkedIn.
In this episode of Jeans with a Blazer, we unpack the unsexy (but highly effective) career moves that can build real momentum toward your next raise, promotion, or leadership opportunity — especially if you’ve been quietly doing great work and wondering when it’s your turn to shine.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll learn — and why it matters.
First, Let’s Bust a Few Myths
Before we dive into the moves, we need to address a few lies the workplace has sold us:
Myth #1: Hard work and being nice automatically leads to a promotion.
Not always. Visibility, strategy, and timing play a massive role.Myth #2: Promotions are always based on merit.
Office politics, leadership perceptions, and who’s top of mind can weigh just as much as performance.Myth #3: Being helpful will get you rewarded.
Helpful is great, but invisible labor without boundaries can actually keep you stuck.Myth #4: Your boss knows what you’ve accomplished.
Spoiler: they don’t. Unless you remind them — tactfully and consistently.
Be Consistently Reliable
Reliability is the career version of compound interest. It’s not glamorous, but being someone others can count on builds trust — and trust builds promotions.
Whether you’re in corporate or creative work, delivering consistently over time earns you credibility. People start associating your name with calm, capability, and results — and when leadership is picking someone to promote, that quiet reputation becomes your secret weapon.
Document Your Wins
Enter the “Yay Me” folder.
If you’re not tracking your accomplishments, you’re leaving money on the table. Whether it’s client results, internal wins, positive feedback, or soft-skill contributions — keep a running list. This not only helps during review season, but also strengthens your self-advocacy muscle.
Start Mentoring
Mentorship = leadership in action. One study found that employees who mentor others are 6x more likely to get promoted. Why? Because mentoring shows emotional intelligence, initiative, and the ability to develop others — all things managers do.
You don’t need to wait for a formal program. Informally guiding a new team member or sharing knowledge counts — and positions you as a natural leader before the title arrives.
Practice Emotional Regulation
High emotional intelligence isn’t talked about enough — but 75% of employers say they’re more likely to promote someone who has it. That means staying calm under pressure, handling feedback gracefully, and being the person others trust when tensions rise.
EQ may not come with a trophy, but it does come with a better title and a raise.