AIBU to interpret this statement as "I want a promotion"

[LJackson19k87]

No one's really being unreasonable here, more of a "help me settle the debate"

NC as this is quite specific about work, and I've posted about work issues before on this and other boards.

I am middle management in a corporate office based environment. Part of my role is mentoring and supporting new starters, particularly those who join through the graduate scheme.

One of my mentees is just coming to the end of her graduate scheme and will be fully qualified and "on her own" as it were, after Xmas. She caught me as I was leaving today and told me that she'd met with the senior team and given her offer of a permanent contract. (When you join through the scheme, the initial contract is only for the duration of the scheme.)

She said she wanted to stay with us, but before she signed it would like a conversation about "What the role would look like". It is common knowledge within our office that we will be reshuffling the management team after Xmas as a a few people are moving on / retiring, and so there will be one or two junior management roles available. It is also a well established that the company has a strong "grow your own" policy and always posts non-entry level roles internally before going to external advert.

I interpreted her comment as meaning that she'd like one of these soon to be available junior management roles, and would consider looking elsewhere for similar if she weren't to get one (to be fair to her, she'd be very very good at one of them)

I mentioned this to my boss, who said that I was over thinking it and the mentee probably just wanted to clarify what will change when she is "on her own"...

So how would you interpret this comment?

I’d think the same as you.

If she'd be very very good at it what's the problem?

@Gruesome2some - no problem at all! i'd love to have her as a fellow member of the management team.

The only "issue" was that my boss doesn't think this is what this person was getting at.

It doesn't matter in the long run, as the post(s) will be advertised internally and if she applies she applies, I was just curious on how people would interpret this comment as me and my boss had a friendly disagreement about it.

I'd think the same as you. If she is aware of the circumstances you have described and she is just finishing her sort of induction programme.

It can be hard for people to ask for progression as some of us feel awkward and grabby. I've come back to a new job after maternity leave and I've made no bones about the fact that I'm looking for progression as we have a similar attitude to your company.

If she'd be good at the role just have an open conversation with her!