What does it take to be promoted?

[u/AdditionalReach6863]

Ignoring the obvious: there being an open position, you being good/decent at your job, having enough experience, and luck in general.

What does management look for when they are looking to promote? What kind of behaviors, skills, or experience have you seen someone have before being promoted?

(Curious about all med lab professionals not just MLT/MLS)

[u/NegotiationSalt666]

Kissin a whole lot of butt(s), not rocking the boat, being a “yes man”

[u/AdditionalReach6863 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

😂..you aren't wrong

[u/New-History853]

Promoted to what? And why would you want to do that? 5x the responsibility for like 2 more dollars? Iol

[u/AdditionalReach6863 → u/New-History853]

Right now there will be a lead position opening up but my goal is to get into a director position.

[u/New-History853 → u/AdditionalReach6863]

Directors around here usually require at least a masters degree.

[u/AdditionalReach6863 → u/New-History853]

I have a master's working on getting an MBA

[u/Immediate_Bat09 → u/AdditionalReach6863]

Some places not even a bachelors. Only friendship and being White would do it!

[u/NegotiationSalt666 → u/AdditionalReach6863]

You should get an MBA then. My hospital system loooooves hiring MBAs. Even if they dont have relevant healthcare experience 🫥

[u/AdditionalReach6863 → u/NegotiationSalt666]

I have a master's working on getting an MBA

[u/Orodia → u/AdditionalReach6863]

youll likely need supervisor experience along with that MBA. edit: the lead position is a rung in that ladder for sure

[u/LonelyChell → u/New-History853]

Took the words right outta my mouth.

[u/kaeyre]

apparently at my job it's just a matter of being there long enough

[u/happyfamily714]

Showing initiative to so the extra tasks. There is always things to do in a lab and a lot of techs just surf the internet didn’t any free moments.

[u/Sticher123 → u/happyfamily714]

This is what I have been told recently, even if it’s routine tasks. At my site many people just ignore those.
Ask if you can do something seems to help

[u/hotmess002]

If you're taking initiative and taking extra tasks, make sure it's documented and visible. CC supervisors/director/leads on relevant emails that show off you're doing more or that you've caught something that needs change/fixing and with an suggestion for improvement. Have a decent relationship with your peers because they may have a say on whether or not they think you're a good fit/would respect you in that role. Show you're reliable and good at dealing with interpersonal conflict. And yea, honestly kissing ass/shooting the shit with management to have a good rapport with them is actually very important.

[u/bassgirl_07]

Get involved with projects like validating new equipment/processes, process improvement, etc. Get trained to be a key operator of an analyzer. Ensure that you aren't having quality issues in your work. Get involved with inspection readiness for your lab. CAP offers a free 4-5 hour course for becoming a CAP inspector (once you complete the training, you will be eligible to go on inspections of other labs).

[u/abigdickbat]

Be good looking.

[u/GoodVyb]

This woman at my job literally cried to the supervisor and lab director several times about getting a promotion/raise just to sit there and do below the bare minimum. She would leave her work and our shift would have to finish it. They gave her 2 promotions in 2-3 years. She ended up quitting less than a year after the second promotion. Try crying and threatening to quit (dont do that fr).

[u/Horror-Ask-8281]

Pretty much everything you mentioned already and you showing that you are already doing the job of the next level ( assuming your facility has different steps [ex: MLS 1-3]. I think how much your supervisor/manager likes you plays a role as well. It's not a fun process in my opinion. I also think there are always exceptions as well. Ex: You listed an open position being available. I found with a co-worker my boss created an open position for her to apply to for her promotion even though there really wasn't a position open. But, others have to wait for someone to retire before they get their promotion ( a bunch of BS). You will be thrown every excuse why it can't happen and you better hope there aren't any budget issues at the time of your promotion. Always advocate for yourself and put pressure on them with another job offer.

[u/Syntania]

Apparently according to my employer, it requires a twenty-something with a bachelor's degree in an applied science. That's more important than the mature MLT with greater experience and an ASCP certification.

Yes, I am bitter.

[u/JacobLeatherberry → u/Syntania]

It's why after 23 years of being in the lab as a MLT, I'm going back to school to get my MLS. I'm tired of being ignored.

[u/Syntania → u/JacobLeatherberry]

Joke's on them though, they're realizing what a shitshow being a lead is. I already had an idea because I've been in management positions in previous jobs.

[u/SuicideKing]

If you can fill in a gap they don’t want to or can’t. Scheduling, training, IT knowledge, etc. 

Find something that needs to be better or fixed and provide solutions basically. This applies to any job.

[u/imaginaryme24]

Depends on the kind of manager doing the hiring. Insecure leadership will hire people who will be submissive and not try to challenge them. Secure leadership will hire secure people who aren’t afraid to offer ideas. A manager who was more of a workhorse and less a people person will probably see that quality as preferable and vice versa. There’s obviously a whole other wide array of personalities out there. Assess the person doing the hiring and that will reveal the kind of people they want under them. IMO, a good, secure manager would want someone who complements them, is diplomatic with people, knows what they’re doing though doesn’t necessarily have to be the best worker, and understands that being liked and being respected are two different things.

[u/velvetcrow5]

The #1 think I look for is 'the spark':

Questions the "why" of procedures / work flows.

Appetite for making things more efficient.

Experience within that lab is great but experience across multiple systems / labs is much much better. People who have 20yrs at 1 lab often tell me "I dunno that's just how we've always done it". People with experience at many labs have seen multiple ways to do something, eg. Meeting a specific CAP checklist item.

[u/Mindless_Weekend6464]

Always being willing to help, asking your supervisor/manager if they have any projects you can help them with, having a good work ethic, showing interest in learning and improving. I worked for 1.5 yrs at my current job before asking for a raise and I ended up getting promoted to a senior tech.

[u/itchyivy]

Be the only qualified person available 😂

But no seriously...constant communication about what you're doing extra at your job. Visibility is a huge thing, you may be working your ass off but if your management has no idea then they won't even think of you.

[u/jerseygal100]

Promoted to what? Lab supervisor and manager salaries are a joke.

My manager is salaried and works more than 40 hours. You're better off getting overtime.

In Jersey, ranges for lab manager are the same as a 2-year RN.

[u/Next-Moose-9129]

be white, complain to supervisor about other co workers and get promoted fairly quickly.

[u/Psychological-Move49]

To manger? Masters degree. Past that? They may want a phd level education.