Promotion given to a younger man

[Whatiswrongwithme1979]

Am I being unreasonable to be angry, feel worthless and to wish I didn't have to go back to work?

Ive worked 20 years in a senior role and was strongly encouraged to apply for a promotion going in my department. As context, I get excellent performance ratings and have won awards in the last year for that as well.

I apparently did very well at interview, with no feedback given. The job was given to a man with less than half my experience, no professional qualifications and who is junior to me in position at work. He is a smooth talker but is rarely seen at work and has an uncanny ability to do very little whilst getting his team to work to the bone - perhaps a leadership quality in itself.

Im angry, dejected and feel rubbish. I'm not quite sure what to do next as it is a clear signal of how I'm valued.

The decision makes me feel like the executive lack integrity and dont live up to the values the company espouses, though I can't put my finger on why.

How do I process this and move on, how do I not feel so angry, am I even reasonable to feel angry about their decision!?

So he's had more experience in this company than you

Yes around 7 years in total in this company from starting as a graduate.

Our interview formats measure diversity of experience and skills, not tenure. If it was time served in the company, there were other candidates who would have been successful - ie not him or me.

SimoneHere, yes I think there is an expectation I will be using my experience to train him up. That won't be something I am willing to do.

Was just about to say the old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”.

I suspect OP's analysis is correct, he is good talker in interviews. Personally I would not ask for feedback, who wants to hear negatives about themselves? My advice would be to hold head up high and look for another job - preferably to an even more senior/better paid role elsewhere.

Sorry OP you sound much more qualified for the role it doesn’t make sense.

I also have seen this many times. Generally opportunities are given to staff of varying ages but in my perception it seems to be younger staff (10-15 years younger than me) and little work experience. They make besties with the right people and I can’t be bothered anymore. I just focus now heavily of my ‘life’ balance of the work/life balance. If I want to take leave or whatever else, I go for it. For example, I used to push through sick days and now I take my entitled time off until I am fully recovered. I don’t volunteer for things like social clubs or to do extra tasks. I take my tea and lunch breaks. Just do my work, head down and then when it’s time to finish for the day, I head out on time.

I'd look around for a different opportunity but not leave until I had another better job.

They need you in your current role doing the day to day job I suspect. Often being good / safe pair of hands gets you stuck. Particularly if they don’t think you will leave.

It’s ageism and sexism. It happened to me. I was asked to train him. I refused. I found another (better) job and he didn’t even last six months. The madness was that the job also demanded fluent French for dealing with our offices in Paris and Brussels. He didn’t speak a word, so not sure how that was ever going to work. He also had no experience in what was a rather niche industry. But he was younger than me and had a penis.

I agree, and just because you're excellent at your current job doesn't mean you'd be excellent in a new role, see 'The Peter Principal'

You're probably right, given the conversation at the time that could be the case.

I dont know why they would think I wouldn't leave though, they head-hunted me for my current job and know I won't accept being overlooked.

That's partly why I'm so miserable, I thought I'd found a company with values and integrity, naively, and would have continued to give my loyalty and provide value. It is disappointing to find out I was wrong. I know the best route is to quietly look for another company which is a better fit, just need some rallying time.

The Peter principle does apply to males as well as females, so your logic applies as equally to him as it does to me.

He had a penis and you don’t. It’s as simple as that unfortunately. I would put a complaint in and ask for a meeting with the boss to discuss all this

When this happened to a friend of mine she took her full holiday entitlement which she had put off for 18 months at the request of her boss.

Fortunately she had an email trail of all the requests to defer and take it together at a later date.

Her boss still tried to get her to defer as it wasn't a good time yet again and she knew he intended to ask her to train up this inexperienced hire.

She immediately raised a grievance and wrote she intended to seek external advice with ACAS, as she wanted to take her extremely overdue holidays which had been repeatedly denied to her.

HR quickly and firmly intervened, and she took her full entitlement of 14 weeks, immediately.
Bare minimum handover to boss via email and no training of new guy who was starting in 2 weeks.

She looked for another job during that time and gave them notice 8 weeks in.

She never returned to the office and had the pleasure of hearing of the utter shit show her absence caused.

She took the time to have an exit call with her bosses boss and eviscerated him and his treatment of her.

18 months after she left she received an excellent offer to return to a promotion, but she politely declined "at this time" as she is gaining significant relevant experience in her new position and enjoying it.

Her old boss remains but has been severely damaged by his mismanagement, disaster recruitment, which sidelined her and caused her to leave.

Take your time OP and look at your options, but do not be used to train this person up.

I’m a civil servant, 10 interviews for next grade up and I was never successful, I’m bowing out age 50 and embarking on a new career. It was always the best storyteller who got the role and I have seen some very bad G7’s in my time, but their loss. I’m moving on

Sorry but this is only about money. He's cheaper than you. Simple.

sorry, missed your question @Whatiswrongwithme1979

Errolwasahero, what's your experience and how did you react in the short and medium term?”

I’ve been there 10 years, him less than one. Basically have been doing the job for a while. Hey ho. I held my head high, congratulated him and kept out of the way for a bit. My colleagues looked after me. I can’t deny, it’s been a struggle but I’ve done some work on myself and have focused on my own life. Life is good! Also: fuck’em. 😏
Chin up!

Absolutely brilliant.

I went for promotion and didn't get it last year, but the person who got the job was older and more experienced - I knew I was reaching in terms of my experience. Got a lot of praise about how well I interviewed, and a chunky pay rise out of it so it was worth going through the process. Had they given it to someone less experienced or in particular, another colleague who applied for the job who has nowhere near the skills and experience I have, or someone who turned out to be a dick, I'd have walked.

I'd be professional and helpful with him but would not do anything which amounted to training. While looking for another job that is a step up elsewhere.

I'd be professional and helpful with him but would not do anything which amounted to training. While looking for another job that is a step up elsewhere.

Personally I’d ask what direction they are looking to go in because if they don’t feel you fit that direction now then will you in the future
This may help you decide what to do next

This.

so he’s been at the company longer than you? It seems like he interviewed well and got the job fairly.

Let's be honest here. Its mostly sexist even if unconsciously. That's why we have a gender pay gap and other males being in senior roles that they cant do. We are then expected to help them with their roles. I would refuse to train him. Be polite but no offer of help. Why let other walk over you?

Maybe they like you where you are, as a safe pair of hands doing the heavy lifting and making the business unit easier to manage (by the less experienced golden boy). If this is the case you could be in a decent position to ask for a pay rise.