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How to Get Promoted in Singapore
Promotions follow documented impact at the next level, a manager who is advocating for you, and a conversation started at least two review cycles before you expect it.
Performing well in your current role is the qualifying round, not the promotion itself.
The three conditions
- You are already doing parts of the next role
- Your impact is documented and visible beyond your manager
- Your manager knows you want it and knows the specific gap
The 12-month plan
- 1Get the level criteria in writing and self-assess honestly.
- 2Pick two gaps and take on work that closes them.
- 3Keep a running impact log with numbers, updated monthly.
- 4Raise the ambition in a one-to-one, and agree what success looks like.
- 5Review progress each quarter against those criteria.
The conversation
'I want to be ready for [next level] within the next year. Based on the criteria, where do you see my biggest gap, and what work would close it?'
Frequently asked questions
- What if there is no headcount above me?
- Then the promotion is external. Build the evidence anyway — it transfers.
- How often should I raise it?
- Quarterly, tied to specific progress rather than repetition of the ask.
Fix the right thing first
The Career Health Check reads your resume, your work style and your goals together, then tells you which of them is actually holding you back — with a prioritised plan. Four minutes, free, no account needed.
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Last reviewed 2026-06-01 by the Thrivn team.