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?

Their actions speak volumes. Your work is good enough to train an outsider, but not for an internal promotion.

What to do about it is about how much tension you can manage in the office.

You will also need a reference for when you find a new job.

I'd ignore the email and make my manager actually speak to me in person and give her a polite but assertive refusal, making my feelings abundantly clear.

I am an absolute doormat and frequently get walked over ,but even I would not send that work over
She wants the job ,she does the work
They are basically saying they want your work ,but not you
Fuck that ,have some dignity ,they want your work,they hire you

Oh, I LIKE this response!

They clearly don’t value her though, I’d refuse and look elsewhere.

It's not black and white that OP's presentation now belongs to the company.

I'd refuse, if they push just say what another poster has suggested - that you're sure that the successful candidate would rather use their own plan.

I would wager that if the OP doesn’t even acknowledge the request, the manager won’t chase and will all be forgotten

Honestly - this is quite a clumsy request but i would agree with good grace. I would however loop in my directors, explain why I’m sending it and say you hope it will be useful for others in the organisation too.

I'd ignore the email.

I'd be p*ssed off too, but agree with this approach.

Try to involved and implement it as your own project - you show willing to the company and you can use it in interviews elsewhere or discussions of promotion.

Have you had a formal meeting for them to provide feedback?

I genuinely think your new colleague would prefer to prepare their own work rather than piggybacking off yours.

I think suggesting you want to use or adapt the presentation for future job applications is a good one.

If I was mindful to share the slides, I would send a PDF without the script or notes.

This could be the thin end of the wedge. It may be more than the presentation. It is unlikely that the new person will just roll with your presentation. As a minimum, you will be asked to have a meeting. This could lead to you working with the new person to implement your ideas. You need to meet with your manager. I would state that asking for your presentation, completed on your own time, when you didn't get the job was a insensitive and you would have preferred a conversation.

You are looking forward to meeting your new colleague and would like to understand the parameters. You would like your manager to set out her plan and expectations for how your ideas will be implemented by your new colleague.

I would not fire your presentation without a conversation about future expectations.

Op doesn’t seem all that keen to engage with the thread 🤷

Yes, I've heard plenty stories of people who didn't get the job having to train in those who did get the job. That's fairly galling by anyone's standards.

but if they would have been responsible for the training the newcomers in any scenario ie if they hadn’t even gone for the promotion, then why should be business not allocate work to the person who is responsible for this?

CF

If you created it in work time then it is their property so you will need to hand it over. If you done it in your own (unpaid) time then it's your choice.

I understand the idea about not shooting yourself in the foot. But I think a workplace liek this is just going to carry on taking the piss. If I could get another job fairly easily I would say no, and start looking for another job.

Say no. This is your work, your creation and why should they have the benefit of it to train someone else? Just decline politely and (as already mentioned) tell them it's your intellectual property.

I was asked the same on a previous occasion. Did a freelance stand-in lecture for an educational organisation (original speaker was unwell) and they asked me for a copy of my presentation after the lecture had ended. I politely declined.

I would probably say yes with a catch. I would want to talk it over with new starter and train him on whatever it is they want from me/my presentation. It might also help any future promotion, shows you are a team player but it will be clear to everyone involved that ist's yours, your work, your ideas. Don't send the file. Print, sit down and go through it, new starter can make notes. I'm assuming this is specific to your company and you cannot just transfer it to a different one.

It's shit that your ideas and plan are amazing but they offered the job to someone else. I'd also be thinking of leaving.

All companies I have worked for have an IP clause in the employment contract. Any work created as part of your role is the up of the employer. You might be able to argue this work was outside of your role but to be honest if you want to stay working there’ll I would watermark it and send it over.

Don’t know if presentation is appropriate to similar positions (in other companies) but if it is, you could just say that you would rather not as you will probably be using this presentation, or adapted version of presentation, at interviews for other companies and don’t want to raise any allegations of plagiarism. Make them regret not appointing you, CF.

Won't they already have a copy printed out for the interview or shared? Rude indeed, but your excellence has been acknowledged, which is positive, so next time round, it could well be you and showing team spirit will be looked upon favourably. Awful I know, but try to think of the long game. Meanwhile, you could make a copy, change the font and size, omit the best bits, oops lol 😆

Hi,

Thank you for the feedback.

However, I won’t be sharing my presentation. I feel it is essential that the new candidate is given the confidence and space to complete the job with the strategies and processes they’re confident and capable in. I feel it would be a disservice to them to share my work with them.

Additionally, whilst I acknowledge the compliment you’re giving me of my work I think it is unfair tk expect me to share it. It will then show the candidate that I applied for the job and was unsuccessful. I feel this would result in a weird working dynamic that I don’t wish to a part of.

best wishes

Agree with PP that you are within your rights to say that as you spent a significant amount of your own time working on the presentation, you would like to keep it for your own use should you need it in the future and that this won't be possible if it becomes the IP of the business.

However, would there be any scope for the work to be tasked as part of your current role? If so, they could just task you to do the work, which would presumably result in the same (or very similar presentation) and I'm not sure there would be any way to refuse without repercussion?