Didn't get a role - but they want the work I presented

[HarraKiri]

I applied for an internal role, of which I had to do a presentation on how I would implement a new strategy.

I didn't get the role - a more qualified outside candidate. Fine.

HOWEVERRR my manager (who was on the panel) has said that my presentation was really great and would be so useful for the new starter, and can I email it over to her.

I don't want them to have it. It was EXCELLENT (biased), and it's frustrating that they acknowledge it is excellent but I'm not good enough to be the one to implement it. How would you address this request?

I would forward the manager's jawdropping request to HR and ask them that since the work you presented at interview was so good, how come you didn't get the job - and furthermore, how come the person who did get the job will need the work you presented in order to do it?

Phrase it in as indignant a fashion as you like.

I'd like to think that if the presentation was for an interview, OP did it in her own time.

I'd also say it's since been deleted AND add that I'm sure the successful candidate would prefer to use their own work.

"The work I put into this job application is my personal intellectual property. I didn't use company time or resources to create it and the company does not have any rights over it. It is not available. I am sure the successful candidate is fully capable of creating and developing an appropriate plan of their own.'

Also, start job hunting. Your employer does not value your talents that are over and above the remit of your current more junior role but instead wants to use them for free if they can get away with it. Don't let them get away with it.

Sure...

I would reply 'can you let me how much is the consultant fee for the strategy presentation? once I have this information I will then consider your request' and wait for their reply.

OP, I would also start looking for a new job with an organisation that won't take you for granted.

Honestly it's taking the piss in a big way.

They are basically telling you they expect to use the work you did in your own time for free and they prefer to give the promotion to another individual because they don't think you are good enough for the job as a person.

How do you prepare a presentation for interview in company time? Surely that's when you are doing your actual job. Tu less it's actually oart of your job description to be interviewed every so often.

Tell them fine but it was done in your own time and you want the required overtime if they want the presentation to be part of your work.

Unless you've used only your own time, software and equipment the company likely have intellectual property rights over your presentation which makes saying no tricky.

So I'd see your options in that case as:

1. Tell them that the presentation has already been deleted as it wasn't strong enough to secure you a promotion
2. Watermark the living daylights out of the presentation then save it as a .pps file (show only format). Apologise that the original deck was corrupted by an electronic gremlin but thankfully you have a show only version that can be used for reference
3. Variation of 2, tell them the file has become corrupt and is unretrievable...which you're absolutely gutted about

If though the content is 100% your intellectual property, I'd hold that line and just decline to share material that you wish to reference for future personal development opportunities.

Don't envy you this one!

That’s so cheeky. I’m wondering if your manager is trying to piss you off so you leave? Do you get on ok?

Talk about adding insult to injury!

if the op says no

surely the manager could then set them the task of putting together a document on the new strategy for the new starter anyway?

Assuming it was done outside work I would say yes of course and where would you like me to send the invoice for my private consultation work. Of course check to see if it's legally theirs or some other bullshit as mentioned by pp.

Charge them consultancy prices & include something about your IP. They can buy it from you for a professional fee & under a contract.

Ignore the request. Wait for them to ask in person then make them squirm.

This is good. Its fine that it has a bit of an edge to it as a response. It doesn't do you any favours to be a complete doormat. Outrageous request from your manager.

I would just ignore them and if they have the audacity to ask again, say it was only on a usb and I’d used it for something else now. I wouldn’t even bother trying to be too convincing with the lie.

@HarraKiri what a damn cheek!! email it to your personal email then delete it from your work computer!!! just tell you binned it when you didnt get the job! also say that you did it at home!

I assume that none of the pp would actually use the passive aggressive responses they've proposed unless they've already received a job offer elsewhere.

Sometimes you aren't the best candidate. Maybe your presentation was great but the external candidate had mad relational database skills or experience working in a particularly high quality competitor that outweighed anything you could offer. Get over it, try again for internal promotion, move jobs if you want to and think you can do better.

You'd be only human to feel hurt, but deal with that like an adult by saying explicitly that you're happy for them to make use of your work, but the request does make you feel even more disappointed and frankly a bit demoralised.

Ask them. How can you make the cut next time?. What can they offer you to keep you feeling motivated and show you the next steps in your career?

Tbf your manager does sound a bit shit: if you were my report I'd have already answered all the above questions.

I would leave it a day, then reply “sure, I’ll see if I can find it on my C:drive as I did it in my spare time at home.”

Then just don’t send it. Keep promising to send it and then just don’t. They will forget it quickly.

Slightly different view......

Something very similar happened to me about 10 years ago. Interviewed for a job which I didn't get. It was also internal but completely different role and department.

They really liked one aspect of my presentation and asked if I'd mind sharing it and working with the successful candidate.

However, they also explained that I'd not got the job because I lacked particular experience and they offered to support me in getting that experience.

4 years later I was given that job and have progressed significantly since then.

I guess the difference was that in return for my presentation they promised to support and develop my career. Which they have done and continue to do so.

This sounds like your best move if you get on well with your manager and don’t want to burn any bridges. You can make it clear you have ambitions and want to be given respect without being passive aggressive about it. And if you did it in your own time I’d definitely point that out.

Yeah just say you've deleted it..no way would I give it

They might stop asking, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't forget about it. I certainly wouldn't.

Tell them your dog ate it.

This seems really sensible, worth an honest chat to see if there is something you were missing and can you gain it for next time.

I would certainly feel like being passive aggressive too but sometimes it makes more sense to rant on Mumsnet and then make a more levelled approach.

Do nothing.

Your manager is an absolutely dreadful people manager.

If they have the nerve to ask again, tell them a "superior" candidate will obviously gave a "superior" plan and presentation.

I would start looking for a new job tbh.

Unlikely.
most companies you work for own the intellectual property of all of their employees

othersie they’re writing a blank cheque book for the competitions.

it may be different in uk public sector- but in private companies of any size they cracked down on this 20-30 years ago. Perhaps small companies with not much innovation aren’t fussed- but most have a good understanding that they own whatever you do or think whilst working in their pay roll.

its why in a lot of international companies you are not allowed to leave with copies of your work to use in next job, or even make copies onto a drive to work on at home on a different device.

our company got into a lot of problems with emploupyes in India and china who just didn’t get why work they produced was not “theirs” - trade secrets being sold to competitors!

She needs to check her HR policies- in my company that’d be a disciplinary action. We weren’t allowed to download to persoval devices or hard drives. Intellectual property is theirs.