Too good at job to be promoted - what to do?

[Suster]

Hey,

I find myself in a really annoying position at work. When I joined it was quickly discovered I was very good at a particular skill. As a result the company has made that skill my entire job and don’t want to lose me from that role.

No one else in the company does the same role as me. It is a very unique position they specifically carved out for me, even when we went through a redundancy period. However, because they don’t want to lose me from my current role, they also won’t promote me.

Fine, I enjoy my job.

But they also won’t give me a pay increase. So I am stuck.

I’ve been totally siloed from the typical progression path in the company to the extent younger and less experienced people are getting promotions whereas I remain totally static.

I have made this clear to my line manager but he is saying senior management is refusing to budge on either removing me from the role or giving a pay rise. It’s a niche industry so if I were to leave, I’d have to totally change careers which is scary but I suppose doable.

I want to ask senior management for a meeting. How should I approach this? For example, do I make it clear I’m a flight risk or will that backfire?

TIA!

You could ask about their expectations for your career development and where they see you in 3/5 years.

is there a way that your role itself could be promoted or that you keep some of those responsibilities and a new person is brought in at a more junior level to allow you to expand your role?

I would be looking for a new job elsewhere and let them know that you're looking. It might focus their minds on the value you bring. It's not reasonable to expect you to be specialise in one thing and to expect you to accept being penalised because you're a specialist.

I’d think you’re in quite a good position here as they don’t want to lose you. Have a meeting with your manager and tell them that you want a promotion and pay rise and why (experience etc.) If they say no tell them you’re looking for new jobs.

I thought the same as previous posters, if they think you’re invaluable and don’t want to lose you, they will find money if they know you’re looking elsewhere!

I do think you should look at moving on though, they clearly don’t value you as much as they should. They are getting your skill and not supporting your development. I’ve been there, done that, all very one sided. I left and haven’t looked back!

This is unfair for you. You are kept at a low pay, and denied opportunities for professional development, which keeps you stuck with them.

I would start looking for a new job, and let them know that is what you are doing.

You can't just ask for a promotion, it doesn't work like that. You need to be applying for roles in the company that are promotion roles.

if you aren't successful, you need to ask for feedback.

youve unfortunately been pigeonholed in a job, and haven't been able to evidence diversity of experience (rather than being blocked).

It depends on the company. I was in a similar position to the OP. I asked for promotion and got regraded, a new job title and a pay rise. It wasn’t a new position in the company, it was recognition of what I was already doing.

You need to look at employment opportunities elsewhere. I was overlooked for career progression as good at my job. My trainee junior is now my managers manager, having left and returned to the company. In the meantime, whilst I've requested opportunities to develop and gone for promotions, the only significant difference in the last 15 yrs etc is my notice period, which was 4 weeks, then 8 weeks, then 12 wks and is now 6 months !

It’s always interesting to drop into the conversation that you’re looking elsewhere and your boss shouldn’t be surprised it a reference request lands in their inbox.

It’s a niche industry so if I were to leave, I’d have to totally change careers which is scary but I suppose doable.
The longer you leave it, the worse it will get. Do it now.

Do you want to continue to work for a company like this? - won't promote you, won't pay your worth, doesn't have a back-up for your position.

Don't bother with the meeting; just move on.

Ask for a pay rise / promotion but don't say you are looking for a new job. You might find that you get asked to show so-and-so how to do this and that. You won't survive the next round of redundancy then.

Start to become bad at your job?

There is a business risk in you being the only one with that skillset. A single point of failure. They should be jumping at your suggestion of training up someone more junior to develop into the role which justifies your pay rise (training is an additional skill) and opens scope for promotion (team management or a developed role).

This is exactly when you apply for next rung up elsewhere.
Ensure all necessary skills are up to date- you may have stopped building your skillet by being cornered in this one specialism.
Don't get stuck in that area any longer.

Are you willing to relocate? If so, if have a really good look what's out there before speaking to your management (you may have done so already). You might be able to find something pertaining to your specialism or may need to look sideways.