My career is driving me into depression

[Tinkerbellaaa]

Hi all,

Feeling very hurt and emotional as I type this, but need some advice/support from you lovely people.

I have been working with a company for 5 years where I started as Sales Advisor and worked my way up to Supervisor (and did this across 3 different stores). I love the company that I work for and would like to progress and I am ready for a 'Management' title (I am basically a trainee manager without the official title) but it feels like no matter how hard or how much I try, I keep getting knocked down. My Line Manager is very supportive about my progression and has been a driving force to get me to where I am today which I appreciate dearly. Today, I found out that I was unsuccessful for a management position in another (bigger) store - reason being that the Store Manager of the store didn't feel I was ready to take on a store of that size especially when I'm only a Supervisor - 'overwhelmed' was the word he used.

I was really upset all day because during my 5 years, I have seen other Supervisors become Managers and it feels like they have had it handed to them on a plate and I've had to run through the woods, only difference is that I'm still running. One of the Managers even left when she was a Supervisor, went to work for another company and then came back as a Manager - literally walked into the role and here I am still crying for a bloody title.

I've heard it all from 'keep going' to 'fall down 8 times, stand up 7' etc etc but this is starting to feel like a joke - why won't anybody just give me a chance?

I use the word depression with a heavy heart as I have experienced it before, and I feel like slowly I'm going back there again. I couldn't eat or sleep and kept crying every single second I was awake. I feel like everyone else success is rubbing in my face and I'm never going to get there... It's so hard to be happy as I don't want to be bitter about anyones success - the pain is so real and physically hurts.

Do I stay? Do I go? Is it time for me to go to a company that will appreciate my passion? or do I let this feeling pass?

Sometimes the only way to get promoted is to leave. It sounds as if you are at that point and that a change of scene will do you good.

Sounds like your ready to move on and up to another company. Is it possible the company doesn't see you as a flight risk therefore assumes you'll stay put and unhappy?