AIBU to feel completely overlooked

[Iseverythingrosie]

Without being too outing my manager is leaving, I've done an unofficial senior role for 4 years to do all the things my manager does when she is on annual leave or sick leave as well as supporting the team with training and development above and beyond my job description. I've received nothing but positive feedback from clients and colleagues during this time and been recognised for my contributions up until now.

My managers line manager has decided while considering the next steps to request another manager take over the management in the interim despite zero experience in our department. I have been asked to take on a proportion of the this role as the new interim manager is missing a qualification to do part of the role which I do have.

I can't decide if I'm being unreasonable to feel completely overlooked to manage the team in the interim and feel like I'm being used to fill a knowledge/ qualification gap only. The reasoning given is 'resourcing' and I expect to eventually be restructured under the interim manager in the long term. It's made me feel utterly miserable.

Any thoughts welcome as I have no-one to talk this through in real life.

Reading between the lines, your senior management don’t see you as management material.

Go and talk to your manager's manager. Set out your proposition. If you dont want to be over looked you need to make yourself visible

I've done an unofficial senior role for 4 years to do all the things my manager does when she is on annual leave or sick leave as well as supporting the team with training and development above and beyond my job description.

There's no such thing as a unofficial senior role.

You've been an underpaid dogsbody I'm afraid.

And as long as employees are willing to do all the regular extras for free, companies will always accept the freebies.

Harsh but yes this appears to be the case. I suppose I did this to show my abilities and worth to progress should the opportunity arise and now it has and I'm still in the same position and feel completely miserable about it.

The only solution is to leave. A new employer will hopefully value what you have to offer.