Passed over for a promotion - how to react?

In My Humble Opinion
41

I like the advice to strengthen/expand some of my skills. Although I don’t see moving ahead into the position I just got passed over for - I do see a chance to change direction that I think would be beneficial to both myself and the bureau. I’ve already requested learning materials for learning to code so that I can start creating and upkeeping our database interfaces. The in-house guy who does this (he is excellent!) is being yanked away (probably because he is so good). This leaves a big black hole for us if anything ever goes wrong - and you know it will at some point.

I’ve never really had a strong desire to get into code - but I think I’ve just gotten a big kick in the head that indicates I should reevaluate my current path. See - it’s a new morning and I feel a lot better at present! Hopefully this mood will dominate soon.

42

I’m happy to hear you’re finding a new path in your current job. Adding programming to your skills set will open up more opportunities for you in that company or outside.

And that’s the right attitude too. When you get passed over, reply with “Challenge accepted!”

43

Awesome! :slight_smile:

44

If you have been passed over after a least two years in your current position, it probably won’t happen for you at this company. Women are the worst at staying too long in a situation like this. Don’t make a quick decision, but take your time and find someplace that you really want to work at. Or go in a different direction and do what really makes you happy.
My sister worked for a company that did medical coding and billing, she was pass over for a promotion, she told me many times after that, she never really like that kind of work anyway. I ask her if it was really the work or the people she worked for, after sometime she came back to me, it was the people, because she had the best record in the company and could not understand why she was overlooked over.
After six months my sister left, she and a friend from work started their on company doing the same thing she was doing at her old company. She says she’s never work harder and never been so happy. After about a year they had about 50% of the old companies clients, and the person they gave the promotion to, was let go after 18 months.

45

The thread you responded to is a year old. Move on, indeed. :wink:

46

I dunno…an update would be nice.

47

A year or so ago, we had a management position open up. This happens so rarely that it seemed like everyone threw their hat in (not me…I’m fine doing what I’m doing.)

The guy who was a “shoe-in” had his office across from mine. So I could hear him telling everyone how confident he was about how the interview went, etc. He definitely had the most experience and credentials (the only Ph.D in the running) out of everyone. So when he didn’t get the promotion, it wasn’t pretty. The dude fumed for a whole week. The grapevine had it that he was gonna sue for discrimination (he lost out to a woman half his age, with almost no technical experience but with awesome people skills).

I thought for sure he was gonna bail out.

Fast forward to today. Guess who is my boss? The guy. Turns out that another rare opportunity came up right afterwards and he tried again. He would have totally ruined his chances if he had made a fuss to management instead of pressing forward. And I can tell he’s glad things worked out the way they did. His job now is a lot less stressful than the job he originally wanted. He’s also better suited for it too, as it’s more technical. I like having him for a boss.

The whole thing taught me that the future holds more options than is sometimes readily apparent.

48

Two things you can do depending on what you want. If you want a promotion, re-invent yourself every year. Learn a new line in the company. Have a relaxed and quiet air about it, like it’s nothing strange. People will wonder what you’re on about, but you will definitely be noticed.

If you’re not after a promotion and convinced everyone above you is an overpaid incompetent, then just make sure you have mastery of your department’s activities, that you can work without supervision, and that you can take over anyone’s job there. That way, no one’s going to bother you. You have the right to refuse extra work if there are no rewards forthcoming, and you can be quietly arrogant about anything.

49

Update your resume, hire a pro to re-write it, post it on various boards.

Start working LinkedIn like a mofo.

Watch inbox fill with headhunter emails. Laugh as you get a hwaaaaay better job.

50

I’m glad you posted this as a similar thing happened to me recently.

We needed a new person for a supervisory position. We have had only one person in the job since the old employee left earlier in the year. We only work 3 days a week, and myself and another person have been “filling in” since about last March.

Myself and the other candidate were pretty equal, and they chose the other one.

I feel the process was not fair in any way.

We were supposed to take 5 interviews. I took 4 and she took one. The ‘interview’ process lasted 4 1/2 months even though both of us have worked there for about 15 years.

I suggested in each interview that they really needed to elevate both of us because only hiring one person left the department short one day a week, and that one of us might want to take time off or, heaven forbid, get ill.

5 days after they made the decision, the newly promoted person became ill and needed 6-9 weeks off. Now, her illlness and recovery have become complicated and she needs additional time.

So, I get to do the job until she recovers and returns to work- approximately 3-4 months from now.

I hate to say “I told ya so,” but I told ya so.

I don’t actually have a problem in not being selected for the job as much as I have a problem with the company dragging out the process over a ridiculously long period of time, not completing the process they supposedly required, and not taking my sensible advice that an additional person was needed to do run the department well.

I like my job and coworkers, and am not planning to leave over the issue. I’m just disappointed in how stupid and short sighted management has been. I don’t really feel inspired about the place right now, so just go there, do my job, and head on home. I really doesn’t seem to pay to try to make things better.

51

I had pretty much the opposite experience once. A position opened up “above” me, and I knew I was the most qualified . . . but for several reasons, I didn’t want it. One by one, all of my coworkers begged for it. Of course they gave the job to me . . . with tremendously greater responsibilities and no raise. They figured that since I didn’t want the position, they could get away with not increasing my salary. I asked them what would happen if I refused the promotion. The answer was they’d fire me. I just walked out and never looked back.

52

If you want to stay at your current company, then you need to put this behind you, and do a kick ass job with ZERO whining, pissing or moaning. And I mean ZERO. And if you have to work with the person that got the position, make sure that person and everyone else sees you being professional, no grudge, no badmouthing and being a total team player.

Taking time off will give a little breathing room.

Otherwise, look for a new position elsewhere.

53

Now that this thread is on its second page, I think it should be pointed out that this is a zombie, started in August 2012. Of course the OP could return to update us, but any advice given now will be out of date.

54

I think Crab Rangoon should wait a year and see what happens…

55

Don’t piss off people at work. You never know when you’ll cross paths with them again. I just had a friend fail a job interview because the HR person happened to know someone he worked with 20 years ago, and that person had a negative impression of him. My friend never worked with him and has no clue why he doesn’t like him. So be careful what impression you make on your coworkers. You want everyone at the company, even the idiots, to have a good impression of you.

56

I feel your pain. However, I have been passed by 6 times. From a position that I can do better than what Is In front of me. However, the current position I am In, I excel at. The numbers I post per month, are better than ever had. So, this Is my curse. In September. two managers quit, and I found myself doing three jobs, 80 hours per week, and keeping things together. My reward? Two new hires, that took the upper positions. hmmm, well here Is the great part. Now I must train them? So, Indeed, I feel your pain. I was told by my General manager, they can;t replace me, In my position. However, being stuck In this position, means 5,000 less per month In Income. So, i have two choices. Accept it, and always feel what i feel inside, or understand my worth Is or going to be better served elsewhere. Remember, It’s up to you, and If you are all of what you think you are. Move on. Once passed by, you will always be passed by. It’s business. It sucks! I agree, and It hurts, If you have the passion I have. However, In the end, it’s your choice. My advise! Take charge, look for new opportunities & say good bye. It’s time for you, to feel good again!

57

I think it’s probably safe to say that he has moved on after three years.

58

This may or may not help you feel better, Crab Rangoon, but sometimes internal promotion decisions are based on what a job is becoming, not what it is. To clarify, we recently had a regional sales job available and got 4 quality internal applicants. We (the ‘we’ being HR in this case) knew that in 18 months the job was going to relocate from our current location to a field office in another part of the country. We eliminated two candidates immediately because they both said they were unwilling to relocate. Both were unhappy and wanted explanations that we were unable to give. Although we knew the position was being relocated, it was part of a strategic management plan that we were not free to disclose to the rest of the company.

The reason I’m offering this story is because there may be things going on behind the scenes that you are unaware of, things that made the other candidate a better fit and had nothing to do with you or you suitability for the position. It is also possible that you fit in somewhere else in the company’s strategic plan.

59

If they really would be in such bad shape without you, then you have to discuss that with them now. They should compensate you for that. I had almost the exact situation about six years ago when my CFO brought in and old colleague to replace the outgoing Controller (my direct boss). I was passed over and not even interviewed for the job. That stung a lot. I was relied upon to teach my new boss about 60% of his job, and I also had to do the job of the accounting director (my direct report), who left at the same time. I met with my CFO and told him I was working super long hours basically doing three jobs and I need a really nice increase; it was a tough conversation to have, but I got just what I asked for.

I actually wound up getting along really well with my new boss. Then the CFO became CEO, my boss became CFO and I became Controller, and two years after that I became CFO when my boss left. All’s well that ends well. But as noted above, it’s never really “over.” I interviewed a lot after that original slight, and would have left if the right opportunity came along. But I didn’t allow my anger to make me burn what turned out to be a very valuable bridge.

Damn Zombie Thread!!!

60

How was your last raise? If your company gives bonuses, how was that? If your company has task forces or committees, can you get on one or even better get to run one?
All of these things are measures of how your company really feels about you. If it was truly a close call, they should recognize you in other ways. If you get stiffed by them, then it is time to look for other stuff. Succession planning is their job, not yours.