Getting on with it after being overlooked for promotion

[stonkytonk11]

Does anyone have any advice on how to get over and get on with work after being overlooked for promotion? A colleague and friend who has way less relevant experience was promoted instead of me after we were both interviewed. I do really like my job but it's hard working away at it when I see her starting in the new role I wanted. Any tips on how to get on with it and move on??

Bless you it's never a nice feeling but it happens all the time, potentially she just scored higher than you so at interview so they had to give her the post, did you ask for feedback? (Scary I know but might help)

Yes I've had feedback, very very little to go on...no definitive this is what you missed out. Interview wasn't scored as such so it's made it a bit tricky to get much concrete information and my interview was really good apparently...

It’s really frustrating and unfair that it wasn’t scored. I’d keep your head down and look for a new job!

@mintchocolatecoffee quite a few people have said this particularly as I do an awful lot more day to day than the woman that got it, feels unfair!

I've had the same situation at work, despite being scored as a high performer. I'm looking for another job - I think sometimes that is the only way to progress.

I think the best way to look at it is that you've gained some interview experience and, even if they haven't been very helpful with feedback, you'll probably be able to reflect yourself and think of some things you may be able to work on for external interviews in the future 🙂

It's a very small company and so it feels more awkward and quite a niche industry so might be difficult to find something else!

It’s tough. Happened to me a few times but I work due a large organisation and eventually got my promotion. But salary wise it’s set me back years.
move on if you feel you’ll get overlooked.

I had this, twice, then left to do it elsewhere and enjoyed sitting next to the CEO of the first place when I went back for leaving drinks and talking about all I'd achieved whilst he'd fired one for gross misconduct and the other for underperformance. I just carried on as before until the next opportunity came up, it's galling, but no point moping about.

turn your valid disappointment into anger and start aggressively networking, looking for people who work in something that sounds cool to you, ask them about what keeps them UK at night, figure out for yourself if that is a fit for your skills and experience. If yes explain why you can help them fix that problemAt the same time start working on understanding your true value and potential, so that you enjoy this networking process and feel genuinely empowered when you tell that “right fit problem” why you can fix it for them and why they should hire you basically.

you can do this
even if what you do is niche, it will not be as niche as you think. You will have many transferable skills you may not have realised have value in other industries. Big world out there and lots of opportunities if you’re prepared to put in the effort to go after them.

@stonkytonk11 I’m wondering if you were overlooked because of the extra bits you do.

Maybe they were thinking if they promoted you, who would take over the extra stuff?

Just do the job you are paid for, not promoting you is a real kick in the teeth and ontop of that they haven’t even provided any constructive feedback xx

https://www.charityjob.co.uk

Look for another job, this is what I did after I was over looked for a promotion. I managed to find a job that paid £10k more than the original promotion job! So it pays to look externally for better, well paid opportunities. Promotions very rarely pay the proper market rate to internal candidates.

Thanks everyone, some great pieces of advice there. It's tough seeing someone get it over you but I need to make this a constructive thing and not get bitter about it!

Shop for another job. I firmly believe with promotion it's more about how much they like you and how your personality and profile fit into the new hierarchy. I say this as someone on the other side. I got promoted even though a couple of people who are more skillful than I am got overlooked a few times. I am more personable than them and I think that's what got me the promotion, it's less to do with how hard we work. I work equally hard not harder than the 2 guys who were overlooked.

When this happened to me I worked my contract. Stopped answering questions "above my pay grade" and enjoyed 6 months or so of leaving on time.

It was noticed that work was piling up and the newly promoted manager was a bit pathetic.

Then I got a better job elsewhere after I'd made my point

I do an awful lot more day to day than the woman that got it

And therein lies the problem, I see this so often, people who make themselves too valuable in the role they currently do, so if they promoted you who is going to do all the work that you do?

This happened to me it was really hard to keep going working in the team but two years later I now have my promotion. I walked out of the original interview knowing I had not got it , I was unable to answer fully some the questions as mind went blank and I could not think of any examples. I too was also going above and beyond in original role

I changed teams in the end. In my case they had kept my maternity cover on after I got back to 'finish some projects' then promoted her above me. I was fecking furious.

@Papadonut I think this is very likely the case in my situation...makes it hard to get past as at least if performance in interviews was way off it gives you something to amend next time! Just feels unfair when it's down to personal factors

My partner is currently in this situation. He's repeatedly been passed up for promotion. Without being too outing he's kind of civil service but not. Quango type org. He's always got excellent feedback, he's dedicated and repeatedly asked to lead on stuff or do stuff above his pay grade. Which he was happy to do to develop his career. An external consultant even said to him with no prompting he's been excellent to work with and he's surprised he's not more senior. He's kind of senior he manages managers etc.

Anyway I say all this not to brag about him! But to let you know that firstly this happens to other people who are working hard and skilled. So you're not alone. Also to share what he's doing.

He's being more boundaried with work hours and tasks. I know depending on situation you could feel drawing back from things not in your JD or pay grade is petty or counter productive. But for him he's realised he's not going to get a promotion here and even if he does he can't see a long term future.

Then secondly he's decided to move on. I work freelance and before that on relatively short (Yr) contracts. So tbh I'm always amazed what people stick out. But I think you need to make a call if it's doable to feel like you have long term prospects. You know your sector but I'd really suggest this.

Also finally we are focusing on fun stuff outside of work planning day trips etc. Sorry it's shit you have my sympathy.