Overlooked for promotion for someone else?

O. K. Corral

Hi guys

Anyone here have any experience of this or can relate to it? I'm the standout performed in my current department, and was likewise in the previous 2 departments I worked in.

2 recent positions came up and I was overlooked for what I would consider inferior competition. My gaffer told me she had me in mind yet I wasn't given the nod.

Now I'm completely dis-illusioned, don't know whether to stick or twist and look for something else. I know my worth.

Any similar stories?

Sesudra

Was there an interview or application process for the promotion? I was in a similar position myself a few years back, I was working a very high level role for someone of my age and experience and doing it very well, lots of great feedback. A promotion competition was announced, with an interview. I applied, and knew myself I was a shoe in, of course I was, look at the work I was doing! Did very little prep for the interview, expecting my CV to do the talking. Did the interview, wasn't even placed on the panel. My feedback said that my lack of preparation let me down.

A huge part of getting promotion from interview (which I've gotten since, after doing 3 mock interviews prior to the real thing!) is preparation and confidence on the day. Not saying this is what happened in your case but this can be the reason less suitable candidates get the nod - they're able to sell themselves and talk the talk for those 30 minutes in the interview room

O. K. Corral

Sesudra wrote: »

Was there an interview or application process for the promotion? I was in a similar position myself a few years back, I was working a very high level role for someone of my age and experience and doing it very well, lots of great feedback. A promotion competition was announced, with an interview. I applied, and knew myself I was a shoe in, of course I was, look at the work I was doing! Did very little prep for the interview, expecting my CV to do the talking. Did the interview, wasn't even placed on the panel. My feedback said that my lack of preparation let me down.

A huge part of getting promotion from interview (which I've gotten since, after doing 3 mock interviews prior to the real thing!) is preparation and confidence on the day. Not saying this is what happened in your case but this can be the reason less suitable candidates get the nod - they're able to sell themselves and talk the talk for those 30 minutes in the interview room

No interview or application process - the 2 positions were hand-picked.

I believe it to be cronyism - jobs for the boys - this ain't sour grapes and I ain't bitter but I don't think it's fair and I hate injustice.

Cest la vie I suppose

SteM

O. K. Corral wrote: »

No interview or application process - the 2 positions were hand-picked.

I believe it to be cronyism - jobs for the boys - this ain't sour grapes and I ain't bitter but I don't think it's fair and I hate injustice.

Cest la vie I suppose

Okay, you need to have a sit down with your gaffer and try and plot a way forward for you within the company. Tell him/her that you feel you should be next in line if a new position opens up and if you're not then you'll have to start looking elsewhere. If you're as stand out as you suggest then making your intentions known might help you move forward. A lot of 'managment' in this country will ignore staff and let them languish in their current position if they don't speak up it seems.

O. K. Corral

SteM wrote: »

Okay, you need to have a sit down with your gaffer and try and plot a way forward for you within the company. Tell him/her that you feel you should be next in line if a new position opens up and if you're not then you'll have to start looking elsewhere. If you're as stand out as you suggest then making your intentions known might help you move forward. A lot of 'managment' in this country will ignore staff and let them languish in their current position if they don't speak up it seems.

Problem I'm having is I don't think I'm prepared to stick around and wait after being overlooked like this.

I've a meeting with her today and will post how it went but I don't see anything coming from it

Mrs OBumble

Ok, so good luck with the job hunting then.

One mistake that some people make is that they're so good, they're unpromotable: if they leave the current job, then performance goes wayyy down.

O. K. Corral

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ok, so good luck with the job hunting then.

One mistake that some people make is that they're so good, they're unpromotable: if they leave the current job, then performance goes wayyy down.

How is being good at your job a mistake?

daheff

O. K. Corral wrote: »

How is being good at your job a mistake?

you do such a good job that should you leave you'll be very hard to replace.

As such, it makes an internal promotion/job change next to impossible (you'll find the manager blocks your move). Only option is external.

O. K. Corral

daheff wrote: »

you do such a good job that should you leave you'll be very hard to replace.

As such, it makes an internal promotion/job change next to impossible (you'll find the manager blocks your move). Only option is external.

I suppose you're right

And then if you lower your performance you'd be accused of having a bad attitude and picking and choosing when to perform, right?

cloudatlas

You need to approach someone for informal feedback, say that you thought you had a chance and is there any improvements that you could make to make your candidacy viable. Was in a similar position recently feedback was that I didn't have enough experience, I had years more experience than the person who got the job but in my place of work it's a culture of personality and the guy who got it was friends with the people on the panel so I am in the process of looking at options elsewhere. Get the feedback then make a decision.

Mrs OBumble

O. K. Corral wrote: »

And then if you lower your performance you'd be accused of having a bad attitude and picking and choosing when to perform, right?

No. Instead of lowering your performance, you put some effort in to helping other people perform better.

allibastor

Sometimes, and I have seen it many times, someone may be really good at the job they do now, but not good at the role above it.

I have promoted a few people in my time who were really standout in their current role, but when moved up didnt like it/ couldn't cut it.

Also, in many promotion roles, it is often the person who makes it know they want to move up and also make a presentation/ reason why they should move up.

Just my two cents.

Glenster

In fairness I've been on the other end of this,

When someone doesn't get a promotion and then turns around with an attitude of "I'm the best at my current role so I deserve to go up to the next level"

Just because you are amazing at your current job doesn't mean you are suitable for the next level, which is often an entirely different job.

I've been on a few selection panels in my time and temperament comes into it a lot, particularly if someone is going to have a team in their new role.

You're doing yourself no favours if you get emotional in your meeting with your boss later.

dar100

If you are moving from say a front line role to a managerial position, just because you are good at one doesn't mean you will be good at the other

neonsofa

Glenster wrote: »

In fairness I've been on the other end of this,

When someone doesn't get a promotion and then turns around with an attitude of "I'm the best at my current role so I deserve to go up to the next level"

Just because you are amazing at your current job doesn't mean you are suitable for the next level, which is often an entirely different job.

I've been on a few selection panels in my time and temperament comes into it a lot, particularly if someone is going to have a team in their new role.

You're doing yourself no favours if you get emotional in your meeting with your boss later.

But doesn't the op say the manager said he'd be suitable/"gave him the nod"? Was there a different person actually making the hiring decisions?

Irish_Elect_Eng

neonsofa wrote: »

But doesn't the op say the manager said he'd be suitable/"gave him the nod"? Was there a different person actually making the hiring decisions?

In many companies the managers recommendation only goes so far.
HR and the managers own manager often have to sign off on the promotion also.
Perhaps the OPs brand/reputation is not well known outside his immediate team.

neonsofa

Irish_Elect_Eng wrote: »

In many companies the managers recommendation only goes so far.
HR and the managers own manager often have to sign off on the promotion also.
Perhaps the OPs brand/reputation is not well known outside his immediate team.

Ah ok. I thought it was the overall manager, who had hiring power. That makes sense.

Stealthfins

Sometimes being too good at a job can be hard at getting promoted I've often see the most useless people get promotion's over productive staff.

Maybe you're worth more to them as you are, id look at it as lucky escape.

Your promotion could give you double the stress.

I was offered a promotion last year and declined it because the 15 percent extra wasn't worth the stress of taking on 4 times my usual expectations.

So they decided to hold interviews and somebody else got it.

Last summer they were still in work while I was drying myself at 8:30 pm after a surf.

Most evenings when I'm heading home they're still in n the office doing paperwork and inspections.

15 percent extra lmao

Mr Arrior

That's a bit ****. Sorry to hear. These type of things can be very annoying.

vector

The "promotion", is one of the most difficult things I've encountered in workplaces over the years.

It's more damaging then pay, because when someone new is hired in your dept (and you feel it should have been you) you get to see them everyday doing "your job" and it does get to you.

Assumung you wanted the promotion (if you didn't then stop reading)....
Personally, I would recommend that you start looking for another job. Who knows why you didn't get the role. Most likely it was because the newcomer was able to give fluffy interview answers, whereas you could not lie because they know your actual work. Bottom line: actions speak louder than words, you were not given the role.... start updating your CV, and applying elsewhere (discretely). Sometimes you have to move to be appreciated. But be discreet, don't burn your bridges, you might not land a new role! and also don't come across as being annoyed. be nice, be sweet, as if everything is good.