To feel bitter about having a good PDR, but unable to be promoted?

[Zorilla]

I just had a PDR review which was very good. I've had a very successful year, worked hard and my boss has said I am working at the level above and there is essentially nothing else I could be doing better. However, he doesn't have the authority to promote me and there is no room in the hierarchy anyway.

I actually feel worse after this PDR. I love the company and enjoy working there, but the thought that I am not rewarded for the work I'm doing leaves me feeling bitter.

An opportunity to apply for a role which is the next level up may well occur soon if some planned restructuring goes ahead. However, I already applied for a similar role last year and was unsuccessful. Fair enough - I thought it was a stretch at the time and the candidate who got the position is very good. However, the bad thing is that the interview feedback was that I didn't perform as well as I could have, and unfortunately when interviewing both internal and external candidates they can only take into account my responses in the interview and nothing else. It makes me nervous that I will be unsuccessful again.

So you should go in with the confidence that you're already working at that level.

You also have the benefit of whatever feedback you were given.
I'd suggest you ask around friends or relatives to find someone who could give you a practice interview.
Good luck.

Keep practising with your interview answers and be confident that you know that you’re good enough for the job. Try and view the interview you did as good practice for the next time you apply.

I'm not sure what you're bitter about. You applied for a job and didn't get it. You were told that you didn't do particularly well at interview but the successful candidate did. By your own admission they are performing well in the role. Now a year on you think there's another opening which you will likely apply for but your worried you won't get it.
What work have you put in towards having a more successful interview this time? Anything?
Why should you feel bitter about a job you didn't get anymore than the other candidates? Usually when someone's bitter they feel they've been treated unfairly. It doesn't soundclike that's the case. Maybe you're not bitter but cross because you gave a lack lutre performance. Dont do it again!

Apply outside of your company if you want to progress and for the other internal role- ask for feedback about how you can improve at interviews. Why feel bitter? Nobody owes you a promotion

There's no progression where I work, that's just how it is. If you want progression, you need to leave. We are all very good at our jobs. Probably your colleagues are too. A good pdr would simply be the norm for us.

A lot of places are 100% interview based. If you plan to leave, focus on that. Rejection is very normal, but with practice you will get there.

Your attitude/ thought process seems very off.
Lots of people are very good at their jobs, they can't all get promoted.
Look outside your company, practise your interview skills, there's zero reason to be bitter in your situation.

I don’t really understand this. Lots of people do an excellent job but can’t be promoted because there aren’t any vacancies at a higher level. Do companies just create jobs without any thought of how many people are required?

You seem to be in an excellent position. There is a possibility of a post coming up with your current employer and if you can’t wait start applying elsewhere.

Good luck op.

If you think about it, op's thought process must be that everyone in their current job must be crap at it or they would be promoted!

If you are ambitious, that's good, look for new jobs and leave. Why not. But don't be bitter you got a good pdr and no promotion.

I would take the feedback on board and really work on your interview performance.

You know your work is good so focus on what is letting you down ie your interview technique.

In the interview you need to act like you are an external candidate in your answers.

make sure you have got proper feedback from the last interview. Not sugar coated nonsense or soemthing sweeping like ‘you weren’t ready for it’.

make sure you have worked on the gaps and have solid examples to back up your claims of experience and knowledge.

go on interview skills training to build
condidence.

essentially make sure you mail it next time.

nail it