Landing a new position isn’t just about luck and good timing. It’s about positioning yourself as the top candidate well before the decision to fill the role is made. The window of opportunity to make your best impression is limited, so you’ll need to concentrate all of your firepower at once to crush the opposition and make it happen.

Make it known that you want the job

Simply telling the hiring manager that you want the job is one of the most obvious and overlooked strategies when vying for a new opening. Contrary to what you might think, managers aren’t inundated with requests from workers who are dying to work more and take on more responsibility.

The typical manager is more concerned with who’s missing their quotas, sleeping on the job and spending more time on MySpace than on client conference calls. If you’re one of the few motivated workers who’s hot and heavy to make the manager’s life easier, don’t be shy about it -- tell him exactly what you want. Odds are that doing so will help you achieve your goal.

Be Responsible

In addition to making it known that you want the job, make the case for why you’re best suited to take on the inherent responsibilities. Hiring managers aren’t concerned with the fact that you want to make more money, but they do want to fill the position with the most responsible person. Display the fact that you are able to get the job done: show that you’ve met and exceeded your quotas, came in early with your accounts and delivered the goods to your clients on time.

Make Yourself Visible

The big sale you landed and the great performance review you earned were great news last year, but they‘re worth jack this year. Creating visibility means reminding everyone right now how valuable and capable you are. This means you should close the big project that you’ve slaved over for months or hook a potentially big client before the position you want is filled.

Just as importantly, since you have a short window to create as much impact as possible, you need to take a few extra steps to be sure that you’re providing the best possible image of yourself and the company to your manager. Remember, every detail counts, so get a new suit and take some customers out for a business lunch -- but come back with some good news.

Arrive Early

If you’re not already the first person to work and the last person to leave, now is the time to go the extra mile and punch in early. Crank the volume on your alarm clock and tell your buddies that you’ll be making it to a few less happy hours.

Make sure your manager never steps foot in the office when you’re not there. Nothing says commitment like making your manager feel like he is the one that’s not putting in enough hours.

Demonstrate your skills

Climbing the corporate ladder means that you'll have to convince your manager that you are capable of far more than the responsibilities you’ve already been given. You need to emulate the skills that are required in the position that you desire. Make it obvious and clear to your superiors that you are a good fit for the position.

Seek out a few of the key responsibilities that the new role demands. Show that you can instruct your team on a new skill if the position requires you to train personnel. Or join a committee or lead an effort that firmly and visibly puts you in charge as a leader.

Your current role should never entirely reflect what you’re capable of doing. Smart up-and-comers are always looking for an opportunity to demonstrate how they can do more than their current job title dictates.

Do More Than You’re Asked

A good employee will do exactly as they’re told, which a manager certainly appreciates, but a great employee will do more than they’re told. The ability to think two steps ahead of what’s expected and of your boss is an important element of success.

If you’re asked to help prepare for a big sales pitch, go beyond just setting up a PowerPoint demo and a few handouts. Research the customer in infinite detail, try to find out anything you can about their past buying habits, or create a point-form list of the client’s background for all members of the pitch team. Smart employees go beyond the call of duty because they deserve to do more than they are being asked to do. They don’t need to be told to do more, which is why managers are so eager to put them in positions of greater responsibility.

Play above your game

If you want to stay in your current role forever, by all means keep doing what you’re doing. But if you want to be the top draft choice for the next open position, you’re going to have to play above and beyond your current game to get noticed.

Credit goes to the guy who recovers the fumble, not to those who pile on top of him.

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