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You love your job, but you know in your heart that it's time to move up the ladder. Here are four ways you can prepare yourself to land that prized position.

We will always remember the 2010 Tonight Show conflict; not just because it showed the world what an incredibly awesome guy Conan O'Brien is, but also because it gave us hardcore Coco fans The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour and of course, this epic quote from the final episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien:

 "All I ask of you is one thing…I ask this particularly of the young people who watch. Please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you amazing things will happen."

We're not going to lie. This became our mantra during the time we were being considered for a promotion. Long story short, our boss didn't pull a Leno-Zucker on us and promoted us to Marketing Manager. Now, before you go saying that you have the "working really hard and being kind" part covered, we want you to check out our step by step guide first so you can avoid any mistakes and really land that prized position.

#1 Show a willingness to expand your skill sets.

While it's good to be good at something, it's better if you can demonstrate that you have a strong capacity for growth. Take note that this step requires identifying three to four areas in your work that will "enable you to grow in your company" and "making an effort to invest in those areas so you can contribute in more meaningful and purposeful ways." To do this, you may need to rebuild your network, take an extension course, go for online training, and so on. The key point here is that you are making yourself more valuable so that the company you are working for will see that you are ready to handle greater responsibilities.

#2 Think like a manager.

You can't expect to be promoted if the impression you're giving is that you're only there to get a paycheck. Of course, you don't have to become a workaholic just to impress the bosses; but "it's a good idea to express interest in the things that happen when the meter isn't running." And if you really want to get ahead, try to familiarize yourself with the requirements of the job you desire and, from there, determine the skills you need to improve upon. You can also talk to your boss and tell him or her that you want to move up and ask him or her advice on how to get there.

#3 Petty gossip and office politics are not your friends. Avoid them.

So your company has invested in an excellent business VoIP solution, one that has auto attendant software, advanced forwarding, conferencing and more. But you know what you shouldn't do with such a communication powerhouse? Use it as a vehicle for spreading gossip or participating in office politics. Here's what you should always remember: integrity and trustworthiness will never derail your career. And while it pays to understand office politics, watching from the sidelines is far less dangerous and more profitable for your career in the long run.

#4 Take calculated risks.

To boldly go…is something that should be familiar to Star Trek fans. But even if you're not a fan, you should definitely think "bold," especially when it comes to showcasing your skills and knowledge in a situation where others may think "wait" or "don't take action at all." As one expert puts it, "think, act and innovate in ways that come most naturally to you. Put your capabilities to the test. Seize the opportunity."

Author Bio 
Monique Jones is an Engineer who deals with telephone systems. Besides being an Engineer, she also works as a part time writer. She helps her colleagues and other people about their communication issues, giving effective solutions to address their needs.