Missed for promotion- do I ask for feedback- how?

[hattyhathat]

A promotion opportunity came up but it was just given to someone on the team without being interviewed etc. I am keen to know if I was considered and if not why not? What is the best way of doing this or do I need to just leave it?

But it wasn’t open to anyone. They specifically wanted a member of the team to fill the role.

why would they have mentioned it to you just because you were interested? It had nothing to do with you and everything to do with this person. Why would they have got your hopes up when they were obviously all in agreement that this person deserves to be promoted

Well you might have mentioned in meetings you were interested

but that doesn’t mean they think you are in any way suitable for the role so why would they waste yours and their time?

Lots of people get promoted without HR interviewing lots of candidates depends on company structure and how progression is managed. Something you should be discussing at annual appraisals?

Yes this is the feedback I was hoping to get? Do you think I should just leave it then?

No I think worthwhile saying - could we have a chat about how I can work towards being considered for a promotion

I thought your initial post was perfectly clear as well.
This happened to me years ago and although I didn't want the post I wanted to know why I wasn't offered it or given a chance to apply / interview. The next chance I had I asked my manager directly. It was actually a good conversation as I found out what the manager thought were my strengths and that the post wouldn't have suited me, which I agreed with. I still argued that I should have been given the opportunity to apply for it though. If you want to progress I'd recommend looking for another company.

On the basis of this thread

1. you need to be a little clearer in your way of explaining things
2. you take feedback well

good luck

Ok thank you very much everyone for your advice.

Whenever I've mentioned it before I was always told the only opportunity in the department would be if the person in that role left. I will bring it up again and then I think it's probably time for me to go!

Thank you! Especially re point 1. This is what I need!

I suspect you will get that promotion op in time op

In my line of work, promotions only happen if there is a role in the structure, and if you are the successful applicant. We don't routinely make roles to allow people to advance.

We have been known to sometimes subtly alter the structure to enable things to happen the way that we want them, and that might create a new role, but that new role is then subject to a recruitment process.

That recruitment process might be ringfenced to the small number of internal candidates who have suitable skills and experience. That small number could conceivably be one, but might be more.

I think I would be saying to my boss, you know that's the type of role i'm after next, so what do i need to be working on so that i'm the preferred candidate next time something like this comes up. And, how can I make sure I'm in consideration for the role next time?

So when you found out person in role was leaving did you go to manager and say 'please can I be considered for the job' or was the promotion announced at the same time as leaving was announced. I think the point about clarity makes sense, it could be worth looking at your personal communication style to make sure people are understanding what your saying.

the promotion announced at the same time as leaving was announced. this

Although legally a company doesn't have advertise positions, it is a shitty practice not to do this. Most large companies will have policies around this and I've seen employees successfully raising grievances when they've feel they've not been treated fairly. OP, check with your HR department if they have a policy in place for internal recruitment. Even if not, it is worth sitting down with your manager and asking them how they've reached the decision to give the job to someone without interviewing and checking for more suitable people in the wider business. I know plenty of people who leave because of situations like this! So it's beat to be open and honest - ask for what you want.

So you didn’t have the opportunity to ask to be considered. This seems unfair to me.

What probably happened is someone decided to leave and the management has asked them to suggest a replacement internally and they have said 'X would be the person I can see as being most able to do my job' so they asked X and X accepted.

It isn't against the law, and to be honest, it would save alot of time and effort if you know someone who would be perfect for a role from having to go through the rigmarole of pretending to recruit for it when you know that person is the person you are going to give the job to.

It does a little but then if I wasn't ever going to be considered then what's the point of pretending I ever would be! If they had someone in mind then they'd get the job anyway. I just want to know if I was considered and what I need to do to be top of their minds if the position does become available again. So seems concensus is that it's ok for me to ask for feedback on this. Thank you all again, it's been really great to talk this though.

@AlisonDonut Management naturally had the other person or me to choose from anyway. They wanted the other person, and I get that, they are very capable of doing the job. It's more feedback on where I was in the process - was I considered at all? Am I miles off what they want?

@hattyhathat I thought you were clear enough but maybe cos I have worked somewhere like that before.
I worked for bravissimo the bra company around 9 years ago and had a similar experience. Like you I had been very clear about my desire to progress with the company and in my case my manager constantly told me that I'd be great in management. I got given a lot of tasks to do that were management tasks but without the pay and lots of assurances I was on the track to management.
Then returning from annual leave I arrived for my shift and got told one of the other girls had been successful in becoming assistant manager.
They didn't actually advertise the role and nobody else had been told other than the girl who had been promoted.
It is abhorrent how some workplaces run.
Do ask for feedback and see what they say.

but then if I wasn't ever going to be considered then what's the point of pretending I ever would be

agreed.
so don’t mention this role
instead talk about what you can do going forward to be considered for a promotion

and in my case my manager constantly told me that I'd be great in management. I got given a lot of tasks to do that were management tasks but without the pay and lots of assurances I was on the track to management.

the op got none of that

Thank you yes will do. I'm going to give it a week or so so it doesn't seem connected as much.

Good idea

and wish the promoted well and respect the change in their position

Yes fair point.

Goes without saying - they will be very good at it