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?

I’d see this as an opportunity rather than an insult/chance to be petty.

I’d suggest following a PPs advice and thank them for their positive feedback and advise that you would be happy to have a chat with them to figure out how it could work in practice.

Even if you don’t stay with the company, this would be a great example to use for other job applications where you can show that a proposal you came up with alone was taken on board and implemented by the company!

So I am very much toying with the idea of it being deleted (even if it would help the team/department)
The short term solution is to do what a Politician would do: don't answer the question, or do answer a different question! There is no urgency on your part so take your time devising your response(s).

This presentation was part of the interview/ Op did really well in that part. It sounds like someone else did better in other parts.

Frankly someone who says they have deleted a presentation of value to the team , so as not to share it , no matter how disappointed not to get the role doesn't seem like someone with the right attitude to have got the promotion anyway. That might sound harsh and clearly not a prevailing view here. I doubt anyone's going to believe you deleted it anyway.

Take it as recognition of your excellent piece of work @OP. If you are already overloaded you will have to speak to them about that if you are to be involved in the implementation.

I wouldn't hand it over. Either ignore the request or say it's deleted. Or say it was somebody else's idea and they don't want you to share it.

Sometimes there's a choice to be made, being right or being clever.

Op I agree with this poster.

This response won't burn any bridges with your colleagues/bosses, but quite rightly leads into them considering you for an alternative role within the new team which recognises your skillset AND allows you to progress within the company?

They'd be far more likely to offer you a suitable role to gain the advantage of your 'pitch' and skillset when it's suggested by you?

And if they said 'no', then you can simply say 'That's a pity as my current role simply doesn't have the flexibility or availability required for me to undertake such a project due to my current workload.

I'd argue that your employer doesn't 'own' the work you developed through 'intellectual property' either, as it was completed in your own time outside of work i.e you didn't use either their equipment or their offices or work hours on your 'pitch'?

There's an issue with that. Original work generated by an employee during the course of their employment belongs to their employer.

If this was a company I wanted to progress at I’d play the long game.

It sounds like you did a great pitch but weren’t the right person for this particular role. You have an opportunity here to be the right person for the next role, particularly if it’s a new department they are setting up. The person who was hired may not even work out

I’d personally send it over as a .pdf with my name and contact details as a header or footer on every page so anyone coming across the document would see that I was associated with it. While a pdf can be edited, it’s not straightforward to change.

I’d then offer support with the implementation and try to develop a relationship and goodwill within the team.

Im a big believer in trying not to burn bridges unnecessarily, especially at work. But equally, creating some personal agency here to make sure you’re associated with this particular work, is important as well.

It would be something to ask for - plus some reassurance it won't just add to your existing stretch workload with no reward or extra resources.

I think I've been in too many work places where you go above and beyond and there is no pay off and come time of appraisal it's all forgotten or dimissed.

I don't think you have to rush to answer though - take your time and work out what is best for you to do.

I’d be straight and say i didn’t have it any more, and they had a nerve asking for it. But I’m in my 50s and had my fill of arsehole employers and muppet managers promoted well above their competence

I agree with this answer. Use it to your advantage.

We don’t know that this was completed in the course of employment. When I’ve been prepping for promotion interviews I’ve done it in my own time and not using the company resources or equipment either

Love your style 😆

It doesn't. Otherwise everyone who writes novels in their free time after work would be screwed. It's only relevant if you're doing it for the employer.

Framing it like this would be just about the quickest way for someone to ensure they never got a role in my team.

They didn't hire her. She can say she assumed it when she didn't get the role and no longer has it.

You're assuming that I want to work for an employer who is take take take. We all know that dangling promises of promotion that never happen because "sorry, somebody beat you in the interview" are just a way to keep people in line.

I am the same! in my 50s and have no patience left for CF employers.

OP, I would also say that I no longer have the presentation.

Longer term I would also start job hunting with other organisations because this employer has shown what they think of you: they don't value you enough to promote you and they think it is OK to take you for granted by requesting to use your presentation/ideas without offering anything in return.

Don't waste your time with this employer if you want to progress in your career.

That’s so cheeky!

Right. If I received that message I'd respond with, "I don't understand why you're asking for my ideas for a job you gave to someone else - presumably because their ideas were better? I don't feel comfortable handing over my work to the person who got the job I wanted and interviewed for. I'm sure the new employee has ideas of their own that they'd like to implement".

And if I was a manager I’d think you just validated why you did not get the job and rule you out forever. I’d roll my eyes so hard. At such a petty little statement.

becaude the interview was not just a competition on ideas, it’s much wider in terms of skill set, experience, and current suitability for the role.

The file corrupted a few days after interview and you didn't stress at the time as you didn't get the job?

Yes, exactly this.

Omg, I can't believe they did that! Please do not give them your pitch!!!! I would say something along the lines of it was deleted but you'd be happy to redo it if .... blah blah.

Just say that unfortunately you are too busy with your current role to do work that doesn’t fit within your scope.