4 Career Moves to Make Before 2026 for a Promotion

With the new year approaching, career experts suggest taking specific steps now to set the stage for a strong 2026 at work. The end of the year provides a natural opportunity to reflect on past achievements and plan for future goals, whether that involves building AI skills or leveling up your networking.

Experts recommend four deliberate moves to build momentum for a promotion or raise. These strategies range from practical documentation to strategic self-reflection and time management. By taking these steps during the holiday slowdown, professionals can enter the new year with a clear plan and the necessary ammunition to advocate for their career growth.

As the year ends, Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of Ladders, recommends writing down three or four bullet points about your recent achievements. He advises keeping this list so you can easily recall your accomplishments when you eventually leave your job. Over time, accumulating dozens of bullet points becomes invaluable.

Cenedella warns that without this list, professionals face the daunting task of searching through old emails to piece together their contributions. Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with MyPerfectResume, refers to this as a "brag sheet" of major contributions. This document serves as essential ammunition for requesting a promotion or raise, allowing you to showcase the top things that demonstrate your impact.

If your workplace slows down during the holidays, Ashley Herd, author of The Manager Method and former head of HR for North America at McKinsey & Company, suggests using the time to set goals. It is helpful to reflect on what you admired about great bosses or coworkers and consider what behaviors you might emulate.

Herd suggests thinking about mentors who were excellent communicators or willing to help with tasks outside their job description. She recommends identifying those admirable behaviors and deciding what you want to be known for professionally. Additionally, asking trusted colleagues what they appreciate about working with you can provide valuable insight. Herd describes this as "crowdsourcing in the most non-cringy way."

Herd advises identifying frustrations from the past year to prepare for productive conversations with management. If you were overwhelmed with work, it is reasonable to ask if others knew what was on your plate and how to discuss that productively.

Consider what you want to see in your day-to-day work and long-term career, and plan how to communicate this to your boss. Keeping your goals to yourself risks missing out on opportunities, such as a promotion you have been working toward. Herd emphasizes the importance of advocating for yourself and initiating these necessary conversations.

Not every preparation for the new year has to be abstract; some focus on how you manage your time. Surveys indicate that time spent in meetings often increases throughout the year, so the end of the year is an ideal time to review your calendar.

Identify meetings that can be pruned to allow more time for focused work in the coming year. This may involve asking your boss or the meeting organizer if your attendance is necessary, if the group could meet less frequently, or if updates can be shared another way. For those feeling ambitious, pushing for a schedule with one or two meeting-free days per week can be a productive goal.