I'm the president of a tech career website and have over 25 years of experience. Here are 5 qualities that can get you promoted faster.

• Dice president Paul Farnsworth has over 25 years of experience.
• He shared tips on how to get promoted if there aren't many job openings at your company.
• Finding small leadership opportunities and quantifying your wins can fast-track a promotion.

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Paul Farnsworth, the president of Dice, a tech careers marketplace. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

When it comes to getting a promotion, every business looks for similar values in its employees: people who are organized, dependable, and passionate.

Displaying those qualities isn't always straightforward but there are some tried and true strategies to leveling up — or at least give yourself the best shot possible, even when your company isn't in a high-growth period.

Based on my 30 years of work experience, here are the ways you can fast-track a promotion.

Document your wins

Regardless of what industry you're in, the biggest question you have to ask yourself is: how are you adding value to the company? Can you point to a project that's generating revenue or managing costs in some way?

It's not enough to work hard or advocate for yourself — you also have to document your wins as often as possible.

If you meet with your manager once a quarter and say "I've been doing a lot of work and feel ready for a promotion," it can feel like a shallow conversation if you don't have concrete numbers or achievements to point to. If you can point to evidence of your growth and contributions, you're on much steadier ground.

Show clear enthusiasm

Another big quality employers look for is eagerness. It doesn't mean you have to agree to everything or have zero boundaries. But it's always better to say yes to a task — and ask for any adjustments in workload for you to achieve it — than to say "No, I'm busy."

In the post-pandemic hybrid world, this can also mean going to the office more. In my career, I've sometimes been given opportunities simply because I was at my desk when a higher-up needed something. They would point to me and ask me if I could take the assignment when someone else couldn't. If you work fully remote, you might have to make an effort to find more in-person interactions, like a company on-site.

From my experience, the people who are easy to work with and willing to find ways to get things done are the ones who get more visibility. Usually, that also leads to more growth opportunities.

Find small ways to lead

If your current role involves mostly producing something, you might not see many opportunities to lead and move up the career ladder. But you can always find new ways to show that initiative.

For example, you can brainstorm a more efficient way to produce your product, such as automating parts of the process. It isn't about doing more of the same; it's about how you can get the same result differently. If you can come up with a successful plan, it shows leadership — and promotion — potential.

This can also apply to your relationship with your manager. If your boss doesn't schedule regular check-ins, you can put them on their calendar and create that framework yourself. Not only does it ensure that you chat more often and have more of a chance to showcase your wins; it also shows that you can take the lead.

Be trusted to stand in

A great sign that you might be considered for a promotion is if your boss trusts you to stand in for them in meetings or projects. It means they see you as at their level — or close.

One way to bridge that gap is to look for ways to collaborate with your manager directly. In my experience, these are some of the best ways to understand your boss's work style and what they value. Weekly check-ins are good, but working on projects together accelerates that relationship.

Think like your boss

Even though your boss is your superior at work, it's not their responsibility to guide your career. You have just as much of an equal part in that, including understanding what gaps you can fill.

Before you pitch a promotion, it's important to know what your manager values. For example, you might be super fast and organized, but they want someone more thoughtful and creative. The better a relationship you have, the easier this will be to spot.

The best practice is to always think about your boss's vantage point: how would your promotion benefit them and the company? Can you position the promotion as a win for everyone?

If you can take that burden off their shoulders when you ask for a promotion, you bring a potential solution instead of a complaint. That alone puts you in much better standing to get one.