( CareerBuilder ) -- Looking for the best time of the year to get a promotion ? According to data collected and analyzed by LinkedIn , January , June and July are the most popular months for U.S. workers to receive promotions . Globally , January , July and September are the top three . `` It is not surprising that promotions tend to occur around these times , '' says Roy Cohen , a career coach and author of `` The Wall Street Professional 's Survival Guide . '' `` In the U.S. , promotions usually happen around new budget cycles and after holidays . January represents the start of a new calendar year and when performance evaluations are typically conducted . Some companies begin their new budget cycles in June or July , thus promotions occur in these months . '' The worldwide tendency to promote in January can likewise be attributed to the turning of the calendar , marking a time of new beginnings . But while promotions in June and July in America may be due primarily to mid-year evaluations and fiscal calendars , many other countries have a special consideration . `` July represents the time before much of the world takes the month of August off for holiday , so decisions are made prior to vacation . And September is when they return , '' Cohen notes . Other good times for promotions . The LinkedIn study also revealed that while certain months had a higher percentage of promotions compared to others , advancement is becoming less concentrated . For example , during the 1990s , 22 percent of promotions occurred in January , but in the most recent decade that figure decreased to 16 percent . `` There are two types of promotions to consider . One is a promotion that fills a vacancy in a hierarchy . This can occur at any time that the vacancy occurs . For example , an editor retires and someone is promoted to fill the position , '' says John P. Millikin , a professor in the management department at Arizona State University 's W. P. Carey School of Business in Tempe , Ariz. , and a former vice president of human resources at Motorola Inc. in Phoenix . `` The other type of promotion is a step up in a hierarchy of jobs , such as a promotion from buyer to senior buyer . While it varies by company or industry , this usually occurs on a schedule that reflects an individual 's performance evaluation period . Frequently , this would coincide with the end of a business performance period such as a fiscal year . '' Besides someone 's departure opening up opportunities for advancement , other situations can increase the odds for promotion at any time of the year . `` Strike when the iron is hot , '' Cohen says . `` When you introduce a new idea that will increase productivity , save money or generate revenue , you 're golden . When you 've successfully completed a special project , you 've got their attention . Ask what new projects you can take on and how those projects will position you for expanded responsibilities . '' Likewise , Cohen notes that promotions often happen when there 's a spike in business because there will be a focus on adding headcount to manage the expanded activity . But are promotions out of the question when a company is having difficulty ? `` Obviously , when times are tough as they are in most businesses today , you need to be sensitive to the needs of the business in asking about promotions , '' Millikin says . `` Do keep in mind , however , that tough times also present opportunities to shine . As people leave or are even laid off , showing a willingness to step up and take on additional responsibilities shows that you care about the organization . '' Getting noticed . Regardless of the season , experts agree that there are things you can do throughout the year to make yourself more `` promotable '' including : . •Getting the extra training or experience needed for the position you desire . •Letting managers know that you are interested in advancement . •Asking superiors what steps they recommend to help prepare for a promotion . •Looking at the big picture to see how your actions help your manager get her job done well . •Making others aware of your contributions -- without going overboard or constantly bragging . Above all , it is critical that you are performing up to par on your current job . As Millikin notes , `` No one is going to be impressed with someone who is focusing so much on the next job that he is n't really doing the one he has well . '' & copy CareerBuilder.com 2011 . All rights reserved . The information contained in this article may not be published , broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority .
LinkedIn : January , June and July are the most popular months for U.S. workers to be promoted . Cohen : `` Promotions usually happen around new budget cycles and after holidays '' Promotions can fill a vacancy in hierarchy or be a step up in a hierarchy of jobs .