Answer the question based on the information given in the passage. By and…

Concept: In these boss-classification passages, the correct strategy always follows from the specific growth trajectory implied by the boss's category: a Promotable boss is on his way up (so attaching yourself to him carries you up too); a Caretaker boss occupies the seat only temporarily until replaced (so appealing to someone above him can work); a Static boss neither moves up nor retires, so your own upward path through him is permanently blocked and your best strategy must look outside his ladder entirely.

Application: The passage defines a Static boss as “not old enough to be considered for retirement and competent enough to keep on holding his job” — meaning he will occupy that seat indefinitely. Since he is not going anywhere and will not retire, neither loyalty (“stick close to him”) nor an appeal to his own boss (“aim at the kingmaker”) changes your position — those routes fit the Promotable and Caretaker types, not this one. The only way to keep advancing is to move your career path outside this static reporting line, i.e. go out and sell yourself to other departments.

Cross-check: Each distractor maps to a different boss type, confirming the fit: “stick close to him and hang on to his coat-tails” suits a Promotable boss, since he pulls you up as he rises; “aim at the kingmaker, who is generally your boss's boss” suits a Caretaker boss, since someone above is already positioning a replacement; “none of the above” is wrong because a workable strategy is explicitly available. Only “go out and sell yourself to other departments” holds regardless of boss type, matching the Static case.