LESSON
3
Identify supporting details
READING
GET READY
Ben wants a promotion. What advice would you give to people who want to
advance in their careers?
READ
Listen and read the article. Does any of the advice sound familiar to you?
Getting to the Next Rung
Do you want a new challenge at work? Do you
want to take the next career step? Don’t wait. Be
an activist! Career experts agree there are actions
employees can take to get promoted. If you’re
ready to climb the ladder, then keep reading.
Talk to your boss about your desire to do
well and grow with the company. Talking about
your goals is smart because bosses usually like
interested and confident employees. Plus,
bosses know about opportunities in the
company. If they don’t know, they can find out.
Chances are they have been with the company
longer than you. They can teach you the skills
needed to get a promotion.
Volunteer for more work. Ask your boss for
additional tasks or help coworkers with theirs.
You can also volunteer for committees. Some
companies have committees that plan social
events, community service, or business
strategies. There are two purposes of
volunteering. First, you prove you are a team
player. Second, you learn additional skills that
make you valuable.
Improve communication skills. It’s not only
about talking; it’s about listening, too. People
who listen are usually liked by colleagues and
bosses. Those skills make you a “people
person.” Since you are so appealing to others,
you are likely to be considered for promotions.
Be creative. Everyone is able to think of the
“same old thing.” Try to think of ideas that are
unusual. Not only will you stand out, but your
boss will, too. Creative solutions sometimes
make companies more money and, as a result,
lead to promotions for the innovative thinkers.
Keep studying. Take classes that will develop
professional skills. For example, enroll in a
writing or management course. Go to
conferences that will teach you about the field.
Read books about your job. If you know the
new trends, then you may well become one of
the “go to” people.
In general, work hard! Meet all of your
deadlines and beat them if you can. In the end,
there is no one way to be promoted. The best
advice is to combine more than one strategy;
then it might not be as long as you think to
reach the next rung.
Details in a reading support the main idea and
important points the writer is making. Look for
supporting details
such as facts, statements,
names, numbers, and examples to help you
understand what the writer thinks is important.
Reading Skill
22
UNIT 2
