Is a Promotion Impossible in This Economy?

If you've managed to ride out the recession up til this point and stay employed, you probably are eager to start gaining some momentum in your career again. And—since you've likely been shoulder a heavier workload and making many sacrifices in the wake of company cutbacks—you might feel you're due for a reward.

But in this economy, is a promotion just a pipe dream? Not necessarily, although you must be realistic and may need to adjust your expectations. Prepare your pitch, and tailor your approach with the company situation in mind. And now more than ever, you really need to make a strong case about why you have earned this promotion, and why you are so valuable to the company.  

Granted, in many companies—such as those where hiring freezes are in effect—a promotion may be totally out of the question. But as this article states, even in those cases there may be some alternatives available. For example, you may be willing to accept a more impressive title, even if it doesn't come with a raise.

Have you asked for a promotion, or have plans to do so? What's your planned strategy?