Meet Ritvika Nagula, a senior software engineer at Microsoft Azure, who has mastered the art of professional advancement. Since joining in 2019, she has impressively earned four promotions in just five years, and she's eager to share her winning strategy.

Like many newcomers, Ritvika began her career with a belief that hard work alone would lead to recognition and promotions. However, she soon realized that a more proactive approach was essential. Initial assumptions can often lead to a disconnect with managers, who might misinterpret your passiveness as a lack of ambition.

To shift gears, Ritvika adopted a proactive feedback loop. Rather than waiting for semiannual reviews to find out how she was doing, she initiated biweekly one-on-ones with her manager. During these sessions, she would dive into her performance, asking meaningful questions: 'What am I excelling at? Where can I improve? Is there anything I might be overlooking?'

Setting clear career goals became her mantra. Ritvika aimed to ascend to the next level within 18 to 24 months, ensuring she was not only aware of the expectations but actively working to meet them.

Understanding expectations is crucial.

Ritvika emphasizes the importance of knowing what is expected of you at your current level and what changes are needed to reach the next. Self-awareness became her ally as she sought to fill any gaps in her knowledge or skills. Engaging with peers, mentors, and her manager helped illuminate areas ripe for improvement.

At Microsoft, Ritvika utilized an internal resource called the role library, which clearly outlines the expectations and responsibilities for each level of a software engineer. By referencing this tool, she could tailor her discussions with her manager to pinpoint what needed to be done for promotion.

For Ritvika, stepping up to a senior level meant demonstrating her capability to oversee projects from conception to completion, all while ensuring minimal issues upon rollout. She communicated her ambition directly: 'If you’re considering me for promotion, I need to take on these comprehensive projects. How can we identify such opportunities?'

Her initiative not only showcased her eagerness but also positioned her in her manager's mind as a proactive candidate for more responsibility.

The bottom line? Promotions aren’t merely about fulfilling assigned duties. It's about taking ownership, seeking out new opportunities, and aligning your contributions with the overarching goals of your team and company.

Ritvika's journey underscores a vital lesson for professionals everywhere: be proactive, seek feedback, and take charge of your career trajectory. The path to success is often paved with clarity, communication, and a drive to exceed expectations.