If your colleagues are being promoted above you, and you seem to be making more cups of tea for the office junior than the other way round, it's time to take stock. Simply knuckling down, getting your work done and hoping someone will notice your untapped potential is only half the battle. In order to succeed in your career, a proactive approach is essential. Here is some useful advice to start you climbing the corporate ladder.

Path to promotion

According to Richard Jordan, head of employer branding at Ernst & Young, the best way to get a promotion is to think of yourself as a product that needs to be marketed. 'Think about your skills and qualities, and how your attributes will benefit your employer,' he advises. 'This will prepare you for that all-important "talk" with the boss.'

Before launching into a self-promotion campaign, however, it's important to find out if the possibility of a promotion within your company is realistic. First, try to find out if other people within your company are being promoted. Are there any new openings, or is there a hiring freeze? How is the share price doing? Has your company recently announced any job cuts? Answers to these questions will help you determine if your company realistically has the budget to promote you. If there are current vacancies in departments that appeal to you, or a particular job you're interested in, then take advantage of those opportunities. Proving yourself as an asset to your company will guarantee your superiors will want to keep hold of you, and keep you challenged and motivated.

Jordan says that once you've identified your future role, you need to demonstrate a genuine interest in it, and in wanting to be challenged - not just a desire to climb the corporate ladder. 'Talk to as many people as you can - from senior employees to juniors who might be working in a department you find appealing. Build a picture of yourself in that role and imagine what you could contribute to it.'

So now you've targeted the job you want, the next step is to make sure people know how great you are at your current one. A good way to do this is to make your boss worship the ground you walk on - if he/she doesn't already, of course! When it comes to winning over your boss, you really can't lose with a positive attitude.

Keen as mustard

Be enthusiastic about taking on extra work and try to come up with innovative ideas to boost productivity or improve client relationships. Managers are asked a thousand questions a day, so ease the load by working out a few of the answers yourself. This shows you can take the initiative and can provide solutions, making you an ideal candidate for promotion. And whatever you do, don't commit the cardinal sin and become the office-whinger.

Of course, there are obvious point-scorers, such as arriving early and staying late, and while it's not necessary to put in excessive overtime, your boss will appreciate your willingness to make sure deadlines are met. Dressing appropriately for the job you want will also impress your colleagues and superiors, especially if you're expected to meet with clients as part of your new role.

Once you've proved your credibility at work, it's time to be proactive. Seek out the person with the power to promote you - be it your line manager or someone further up the food chain. Schedule a time to chat and be prepared. Ask relevant questions and offer ideas, as this will show that you have given the new role some thought.

If it helps, write down the main points you want to cover so they are clear in your mind. An ideal time to bring up your promotion is during an appraisal, this way you can use your achievements and strengths to your advantage. Highlight what you've achieved and then explain that you are looking for a more challenging role that will put your skillset to best use.

Me, myself and I

Jordan warns against bragging about all your glorious achievements. 'By all means, sell yourself, but show how you can be an asset to a team. Don't just say, "I got the top marks in my accountancy exams". Rather, say, "I did really well in my accountancy exam, and so am confident I will do equally well managing a client project"'.

When having this type of conversation, an authoritative tone and confident body language work wonders. Like anything in life, getting what you deserve requires a strong belief in yourself. If you believe you're good enough to be promoted, the chances are others will too.

Gender divide

Female accountants are more interested in getting promoted than men, according to joint research by Robert Half and the ICAEW. The study revealed that 47% of women rated opportunities for promotion as an important influencer in determining their job satisfaction, compared with only 40% of men.

Two-year itch

A report by recruitment company Gateway found that people are switching jobs more often than ever.

Bored, restless and disillusioned, 97% of us feel we’re in a work-rut within two years of starting a new job.

Click on the next page to read four inspirational stories on how to help jumpstart your career