Work-related. Went for a promotion for a senior position in my field after taking on a newly created post. Worked really hard to establish the role, put in place operational practice, essentially crafted the job, created the blueprint. Was asked lots of searching questions at interview, how would you do this etc etc........only to be rudely informed via a curt phone call a few days later that I was unsuccessful. I say rude, because the person who interviewed me even went as far as to call me out on some of the work I’d done; “........you secured a lot of money, as you say you did.” Then added that she wasn’t sure I’d even done the work myself!!! Or whether other partners had done it!! How fucking rude!!!
Anyway, job was given to someone who knew nothing about the field or the role; & that person then came to me tapping me for knowledge. I am so, so pissed off. This person later tried to soften the blow by calling me “an expert in the field,” and she also told me she knew I delivered in operational terms. This happened a few years back, and whilst some might say suck it up & get over it, essentially it’s fucked my career. I’ve been kept at a low level in a subsidiary post whilst others, who started after me & have no experience whatsoever in the field are seemingly promoted by said person with alarming regularity.
I am so hurt by this experience. I don’t understand why this has happened, and what more I could have done. AIBU to feel like this? And what do I do from here? She’s effectively slammed the door in my face. I am gutted. She managed to drain me of all my ideas for good practice as well, & then used this knowledge to roll the job out on a wider scale.
My confidence has been shattered & I’m so, so angry, at her, & myself, as I believe I’ve been used & wrung our to dry.