Many people have misconceptions about the criteria for promotion and how they are evaluated. To effectively assess yourself and plan your development, rely on accurate information and trusted advice, not on myths or assumptions. Download your institutional promotions guidance and talk it through with a mentor.

You can find your institution’s guidance here:

• University of Leeds
• University of Sheffield – consult your Head of Department or HR representative for local guidance
• University of York

Work with your mentor to understand what is really being looked for under each criterion and where you might need to gain some greater experience. For example:

• What does research leadership look like in your discipline? Are there expectations on the types or quantity of funding you have applied to or been successful in? What about your contributions to helping the next generation of researchers coming through?
• What types of leadership ‘count’ when it comes to teaching? Is there a particular size of programme or expectations around design of courses that must be met?
• How does your institution define citizenship or service? What activities actually count, how much of that activity do you need to do and what evidence are you required to collect that you have made a difference in this role? Are externally-facing activities valued differently to internally-facing? Are certain committee roles more highly valued than others?
• What types of public engagement activities are valued and which institutional priorities do these map to? For example, supporting widening participation agendas through targeted interventions with young people or contributing to public engagement with research or policy impacts?

At the same time, get to grips with the annual cycles and deadlines for the process and find out if there are people within the Department or Institution who you might draw upon for help.