To be worried or unsure about this? (Work related) Time sensitive

[NotSureNeedSomething]

Need advice / a bit of focus here to make a decision by Thursday.

I recently went for a promotion, didn’t get it, but was second so have been put on ‘retainer’. They can offer me a promotion if the same job comes up in the next 3 months if not I’d have to re interview. The promotion is for ‘Team B’. I am in Team A, which is similar.

however I have been offered my same job but in this new team B (so not the promotion role), and have been told that the promotion job in Team B is coming up most likely in next month or so for me to move straight into but that if it doesn’t, I will be in a stronger position already being in Team B to re interview if I have to if it’s outside of 3 month timescale.

Sorry if this is a convoluted explanation. No drip feed or mad back story. I love my current Team A, and enjoy the work although stressful. Team B is very similar work but possibly a tiny bit less stress, but also less complexity so possibly a tiny bit less satisfaction but stronger chance of promotion from what I have been told?

Argh! Need to decide by Thursday as it would be an internal transfer

No change to salary for the offer to transfer sideways, it would be same pay and working hours

I would probably move to team b

Take it.

I’d move over. Broaden your horizons

Team B

For me stress doesn’t equal complex role. I’d go for less stress every time. You can find complexity in any task if you want to offer a ‘value added’ to the task.

As above, take the move. Treat it as development.

I'd very much read that as they want you for the promotion and are greasing the wheels but for the sake of presentation, you need to be seen as the best fit so as not to put any noses out of joint.

I'd also add that you didn't meet the top slot for the promotion this time and so staying in post without diversifying your skills etc doesn't make you a more desirable candidate, for this or any other post, so take it.

I would stay in team A. No guarantee of promotion. I'd be a bit suspicious of this request. No advantage to you except a vague promise of promotion. But if you want to try working for team B as you might prefer it then do.

I would personally stay put if all they are currently offering is a role at the same level. You can still go for the next promotion if when it comes up.

I'm not sure this makes sense. You applied for a promotion in Team B, didn't get it, but you're told you should move to Team B as the promotion will reappear in a couple of months. How? You didn't get the promotion, but somebody must have. So how come this opportunity will be there in a few months?

Move to team B. The path IS being cleared for you.

If nothing else, moving demonstrates your flexibility and commitment to self development. The behaviours needed for promotion …
In 2 or 3 or 5 years time you will have probably moved to another team, another organisation who knows. Seize the day.

If moving to Team B broadens your experience then it sounds like a good move.

You'll then be in a good position for a promotion in Teams A or B because you'll have good experience of working in both areas.

This

Excellent advice

Do you believe this? Is this how your company works? If so then you might as well move.
However, I'm a suspicious so-and-so and I'd be wondering if they want you out of team A to give the person who got the promotion an easier ride (as it's never great having to manage someone who could do your job!). So they want you to move to team B for someone else's benefit not yours.
It's up to you.
If you like team A then stay, and tell them you're not prepared to move for a job that doesn't even exist yet. Or move to team B if you think there is a chance of promotion (which is not guaranteed and you may have to re-interview and then not get, so you would need to be OK with that).

@ColdAsAWitches@Viviennemary So I applied for promotion and it is a scoring system. If you hit a certain threshold HR are made aware and you can be recruited internally for a similar post without re interviewing as you are ‘recruitable to a high standard’ so I was just 1 point below the successful candidate and above threshold.

Thank you for everyone else’s input it is an overwhelming majority towards Team B.

I agree @NoSausage@NotInMyyName it does very much seem that was (greasing the wheel/clearing the path), and I would be a good fit qualifications/experience wise I know I can do this role. It’s all just giving me the stress because of the uncertainty. There can’t be guarantees I understand that, but I wish there could be!

I don’t understand. The initial post indicates the role where OP applied for promotion lies in Team B. Is that right? If so, how will a promotion to that role in Team B be coming up, if someone has just been given the role?

I can quite easily understand it - there's frequently multiple roles of the same level within teams. E.g. OP is currently a 'Gidget Maker' within Team A, she applied to be 'Senior Widget Maker' in Team B, widgets and gidgets being similar but not exactly the same, and each team having say 5 'makers' and 2 'senior makers' who are more experienced and do supervisory duties, trouble shoot etc. OP did well in the process of applying for but didn't get the senior role, probably someone already making widgets or with direct experience in the team just pipped her to it, leaving a vacancy in team B for a 'maker' job which she's now been offered.

They're also saying that the second senior is likely to move on, creating another promotion vacancy (or maybe they're going to expand the team and add a third senior) and feel OP would be a really good candidate, particularly if she got some extra widget experience by moving into the team as an ordinary maker ahead of the senior role becoming vacant. OP is that broadly right?

Personally I'd take it, I'd don't see what you have to lose really, even if the senior post/promotion doesn't transpire and you end up staying at your current level (which is a risk with these informal type of offers) you haven't lost pay or responsibilities or taken a backward step, and as a minimum you've gained experience in another team which will likely add to your CV if you want to apply for promotion elsewhere...

Yes this is correct, the team is expanding hence I know there is another role coming up I just don’t know when @HoppingPavlova

so, I am also suspicious /cynical by nature but have missed out previously due to my unwillingness to trust others !
The person who got the role will not be in Team A, they are in Team B so they were successful in promotion already having been in Team B. They had insider info that I didn’t have having already done the role, which is what makes this move appealing as I know there is a promotion coming up I just don’t know when! Could be next week could be 6 months!

To add to the mix I’d like a second child, as it’s internal I won’t have to worry about pay etc as I’m entitled to it all. I can establish in Team B and hopefully secure a promotion

Well you know your company better than anyone else on here.

So you would be moving from Team A to work under the person who beat you to a promotion? Never heard of that happening, but if you are both OK with that, and think it will help with a future promotion, then you should probably do that.

I did a sideways move in the same grade to another department and got a promotion two years later. Older department had no promotion opportunities apart from manager role which I didn't want. I'd go for team B in your situation.

I would be very wary of woolly promises without concrete dates or details. I've seen people strung along far too many times.

But you know the people and company and how likely it is that this promotion really will materialise.

If you say no to the transfer it could jeopardise your chances of a future promotion. The management might think that you’re not thinking about getting promoted too seriously if they recommend you move to
that team and you said no.

Even if progression is horizontal, it’s always some growth opportunity. Go for it