How to Ask for a Promotion When Working from Home

I got promoted 4 times in 3 years - all while working remotely. Not despite being remote. Because I learned how to work strategically while being remote. The problem isn't remote work. It's remote workers who don't understand how to create visibility from home. Most people make these critical mistakes: They disappear between meetings. Out of sight becomes out of mind when you're not intentionally staying visible. They only communicate when asked. Waiting for your manager to check in instead of proactively sharing updates and wins. They treat video calls like phone calls. Not optimizing their setup, background, or presence for maximum professional impact. They avoid informal interactions. Missing the virtual water cooler moments where relationships actually develop. Here's what actually works for remote career advancement: 1/ Send weekly impact summaries to your manager and skip-level. Not just task updates - business impact in language they understand. 2/ Over-communicate your availability and responsiveness. Be the person who replies quickly, joins calls early, and follows up consistently. 3/ Create virtual visibility moments. Volunteer for cross-team projects, speak up in large meetings, share insights that help others succeed. 4/ Master the technology. Your video presence, audio quality, and digital communication skills become extensions of your professional brand. The companies and managers worth working for judge you on results, not where you sit. If your current leadership team can't see your value through a screen, that's not a remote work problem - that's a leadership problem. Find teams and managers who align with this principle. Once that happens, everything else becomes about execution, not location. The formula for remote promotion is exactly the same as in-person: Do exceptional work and communicate it effectively. The tools are just different. I'm living proof that remote work doesn't limit career growth. It just requires a more intentional approach to visibility and relationship building.

He got put on a PIP… for asking for a promotion. Not because he wasn’t qualified. Not because he was underperforming. But because of how he asked. Let’s talk about the career cliff that too many high performers fall off, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds: - You do the work. - You exceed expectations. - You finally ask for the promotion you’ve more than earned… And suddenly, you’re labeled “difficult,” “entitled,” or “not aligned with leadership tone.” Here’s what most people aren’t told: Promotions in corporate aren’t given based on fairness. They’re given based on positioning. So if you're getting ready to ask, here’s what actually matters: 1. Build a business case, not just a feelings case. You can’t go in saying, “I’ve worked hard.” You need to show: → What you own now (Scope) → How far it reaches (Scale) → What outcomes you've driven (Impact) → How it supports org-wide goals 2. Show you're already operating at the next level. Promotions aren’t promises, they’re recognition of what’s already happening. If your manager has to imagine you in that role, you’ve already lost the case. 3. Know the season your org is in. Are they in growth? Layoffs? Reorg mode? Promotions aren’t just about merit, they’re about timing and optics. The stronger your internal awareness, the more surgical your ask. 4. Don’t confuse assertiveness with ultimatums. Confidence is necessary. But once your ask sounds like a threat (“I deserve this or I’m leaving”), you're no longer leading, you’re cornering. That’s rarely received well, especially in conservative or political environments. Is it exhausting to have to play the game this way? Absolutely. But learning the game is not the same as selling out. It’s how you protect your power and your paycheck. If you’re stuck between “I’ve earned it” and “They still don’t see me,” it’s time to rethink how you’re positioning your value, not your worth, but your visibility. Let’s stop losing good people to bad promotion conversations. _________________________ And if we haven't met...Hi, I’m Erica Rivera, CPCC, CPRW I help people take everything they’ve done, & say it in a way that lands offers. Let’s stop downplaying your value. Let’s start closing the gap between your impact and your paycheck. You deserve a role that reflects your experience, and pays you like it

As a hiring manager at Amazon, I have seen many amazing women who stayed stuck in the same role for 4+ years. (Most of them were extremely talented.) They were ready to step into better roles. But no one showed them how to step into leadership. Here’s what kept them stuck: → They waited for “recognition” instead of asking for growth. → They thought doing more would eventually get noticed. → They avoided tough conversations about scope, promotion, and title. If you're not managing your career with intention, the system will manage it for you. Here's what you must do to progress in your career: 1. Stop waiting to be tapped. Start raising your hand. → Passive: “I’m happy to help with anything the team needs.” → Proactive: “I want to lead the next cross-functional project. Here’s how I’d approach it.” 2. Speak in business outcomes — not effort. → Generic: “I’ve been working really hard this year.” → Strategic: “The product rollout I led drove a 27% increase in customer retention across 3 regions.” 3. Ask for the title. Ask for the promotion. Ask for the next level. → Unclear: “I’m open to growth opportunities.” → Direct: “I’m operating at the next level. What would it take to formalize that with a promotion?” 4. Build relationships before you need them. → Missed opportunity: “I’ve never really worked with that VP.” → Career insurance: “I meet 1 new stakeholder every month — so when I need a sponsor, I already have trust.” 5. Document your wins, and share them. → Hidden impact: “It’s all in the team drive.” → Visible impact: “I maintain a monthly wins deck - and use it in every skip-level, 1:1, and review cycle.” One of my clients: → Spent 6 years in the same IC role. → Got promoted to Sr. Manager in under 4 months. → Added $70K to her total comp, by getting into another role without switching companies. Want to learn how? DM me "Career" to apply for The Fearless Hire - my strategic career accelerator for ambitious women. Get an exact roadmap that has helped 300+ women land senior roles in Amazon, Meta, eBay, and other companies.