Internal promotion, didn't get the job - but they want all of my ideas?

[Unboundcuriosity]

I interviewed for an internal promotion about three weeks ago. I went for the role as a rank outsider, and as expected, I didn’t get it.

However, part of the interview was to give a pitch on how to improve an aspect of our workflow. Knowing I was at a disadvantage, I really worked hard on my pitch and was really proud of the plan I had come up with and the implementation framework I built around the plan.

I am back today after two weeks' leave. I received an email from the lead interviewer asking me to pass over all the details of my pitch, as they were blown away by the detail, the build work, ingenuity, and the work I had done, and they want to implement the changes I suggested.

Um no?

The person who got the job should be implementing their pitch? Right?

'Holiday brain'. I would say I have forgotten.

Ignore everyone telling you to cut your nose off to spite your face (so depressing to read..), there should absolutely be an opportunity here if you’re smart about it.

From the OP it sounds like the promotion was a bit of a stretch as things stand, and that it wasn’t the case that you should have been a shoo-in but were inexplicably passed over. I think you need to be enthusiastic about them using your idea and ask in return what they can do to help your development, so that next time a role at that level comes up you can be as ready as possible. As pp’s have said, try and tie this in with a feedback conversation if you haven’t already had one. Plus If you can negotiate some ownership of the implementation just through your support and/or involvement, then you’re also potentially positioning yourself well to be able to present it to senior stakeholders as your own work.

I would try and avoid coming across as too transactional, but focus on showing continued enthusiasm and ambition to work at that level (assuming this is still the case). You’ve obviously really impressed them with your work, so even if you weren’t quite ready for the promotion you’re firmly on their radar. Don’t waste this!

You're working there so you can't really say no. Everything work-related that you produce already belongs to the company. You work for them, not they for you.

Saying no would put you in a bad position for the future and jeopardise potential promotions. You won't be even considered because you're uncooperative.

Don't be driven by ego at work, it will get you nowhere. Your job is to fulfil expectations, this is the fastest route to promotions. Don't try to get back at them because they chose someone else. Yes you had a great idea for improving a process, but maybe the other person had more relevant experience for the role. You don't know how that decision was made and whether it was unfair objectively.

Read your update I would suggest:

• Afraid I deleted the pitch after I heard I was unsuccessful
• Idea was based around/founded in my specific skills as xyz
• Perhaps I could be seconded to the new team to work on this project once the new person is in place, that way I could contribute my skills and come up with a more fully thought through solution in conjunction with the new X.

I some of the brilliant like the up-thread responses where you assert that you may have deleted the actual presentation when you were unsuccessful. However you may be able to rework ti from the raw data if required. Then go on to negotiate an opportunity to participate in its implementation..

Certainly do not do it for free on top of your existing role. Also make it clear that the work is your IP and done in your own time on your own equipment.

absolutely

id respond and say delighted and more than happy to support, thank you for kind feedback, and pass it on and say more than happy t support implementation

and then at your next performance review cite this and also it gives you a fab opportunity to advise the team. At thr next opportunity you likely will be a shoo in.

if you do what some people are saying and reject or negotiate you will never get another opportunity again.

First post nails it. Go on go on ...!!

This is brilliant 😃

I would try and avoid coming across as too transactional, but focus on showing continued enthusiasm and ambition to work at that level
Why shouldn't she be transactional? I could equally say that the employer should be finding ways to promote such a clever person before she jumps ship to a competitor. There should be something in this for both sides.
I like the idea of "in return for my presentation, I want feedback on my shortcomings and subsequent training / coaching on those".
It is probably a conversation best had in person, not over e-mails. Ask for a meeting and cc in other parties (your current boss or HR for example).

Delete it, it was done on your own time for the job interview - right?
So it’s not theirs!

I would explore the possibility of a secondment or working between the two roles if possible. It's very frustrating for you, and quite a cheeky ask of them. I would have an open chat.

This is the best response.
No way will they believe you deleted it. And it was a good idea so it should be implemented. With you getting some credit for the good idea, an opportunity for them to see you are a team player AND that you have boundaries in place to ensure they recognise that.
If you have one great idea, you might have many. They should want to hear them.

Sorry, I didn’t get the job so assumed that my ideas weren’t up to scratch and deleted everything.

First post nailed it. Cheeky fucks.

Nah, fuck that. Tell them you deleted it.
If you arent good enough for the job then they shouldnt get to benefit from your work and dump more on you!

If it was done on a work computer they can check if it was deleted and when it was deleted.
If they have any backup systems they can recover it as well.

I'd say no, you assumed they didn't appreciate your ideas or the presentation as they hired someone else and their plan for the role and quietly start job hunting

What @Morethanthis71 and @margithid13 said (plus a few other PPs similar)

Don’t bite off your nose to spite your face .
You’re in a good position to negotiate.
I think it helps to treat it as a game. It’s not personal .

Threads like this always surprise me with how many people just casually lie in their jobs. "I deleted it", "I didn't see the email". No wonder some workplaces are a shitshow!

They've literally told her they love the ideas, so she'd look pretty weird saying she assumed the opposite of what they've explicitly told her.

how frustrating! However, Given this is internal, and possibly they could try to spin it as a reasonable extension to your current role, can you use it to your advantage?

Say You’re happy to implement but would want to negotiate on current salary and duties (drop some so you have time to take this on) etc.

Then if another promotion comes up in the future you’ve proved your worth…

Can you ask if you can work on the part that they want from you to gain experience in doing the role? And happen to meantion you are going to have to look to find it because it was all deleted when you did not get the job. But you kept notes.

Agree, I think some variation on this is a good way forward.

The point I would be keen to get across is that preparing the pitch took a lot of effort which you did in your own time. Although the IP is technically likely to rest with them, they should absolutely recognise that this is not a black-and-white situation and that your work should be recognised and rewarded in an appropriate way.

I was once in a similar position but they at least had the decency to pay me an honorarium, and tinkered with my existing job role a little so I'd be able to take credit for that work in future CVs/ interviews.