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?

could you use it to gain something else in return ?

Please don't say you deleted it.

You've just proved your value to the business, shown that you're someone with fresh ideas who should be firmly on the radar for future promotions. You can absolutely use this to your advantage right now.

Or you can show that you're childish and petulant, someone who lies and reacts emotionally when things don't go their way. There's no benefit at all in that.

I’m embarrassed for the people on here who would react in such a childish and emotional way on not getting a job that they were - by their own admission - a “rank outsider” for. All that will do is confirm to the OP’s employers that she doesn’t have the maturity or professionalism to be promoted, even if she does have some good ideas.

The sensible thing is to make sure her idea is credited to her and that she has ownership of it, including appropriate workload allowance. Then she can use that work for subsequent job applications, whether internally or elsewhere.

The sensible thing is to make sure her idea is credited to her and that she has ownership of it, including appropriate workload allowance.
But nobody has offered that, have they.

No one will believe you deleted it. I mean, why would you? Use it as leverage! Particularly as you’ll be expected to help bring the new process to fruition. I get you’re disappointed, but you have an opportunity here.

I would just say the truth. Say that you were disappointed not to get the job but delighted that they have found your ideas to be so extraordinary that they were “blown away“. By the way, did they actually use this expression? If not then use whatever expression they use.

Say that you’d be delighted to help but given the situation you find yourself in, you’d like to know what recognition you’ll be getting for the hard work you put in and the use that they’ll be making of your ideas.

I mean, it’s remarkable that your ideas were so astonishing that nobody actually took a note of them.

Tough one. You can't say no as still work there. Any scope for some malicious compliance?

Definitely use one of the previously posted messages to push for a secondment / another role on their team since your idea was so notable.

The posts about not handing over the work being 'pettiness' and urging 'be the bigger person' are frustrating. Women are often exploited like this for their ideas and expertise, but then given none of the accolades or salary increases.

The OP has a great idea and a unique qualification that would allow her to implement it. The company should compensate her for this expertise. They can't hide behind 'business needs' for filling the role, then ask OP to effectively work for free out of the kindness of her heart. Business is business.

I'm older though and jaded by both the exploitative employers who take advantage and the bootlicking employees who undervalue themselves.

Well, this is what she needs to negotiate. You know, as a grown up, professional person.

“I don’t think it would be fair to burden the successful candidate with someone else’s (my) ideas and plan.”

Absolutely. They like her idea and considered her for a bigger role. She needs to behave like an adult if she is going to successfully build on that.

So you are agreeing with the rest of us?
Don't you think it would have been better employee-relations to offer first, rather than demand she hand over her files for nothing in return.

I certainly would not give it to them. You’ve got to be a certain kind of cheeky to ask this if of someone and I think most people would agree it’s CF behaviour.

Would anyone here who’s commented saying she’s being petty or unprofessional actually ask for an unsuccessful candidate to send over their ideas. I’d absolutely understand why someone would be reluctant to even if I had the brass neck to ask.

Not being successful at an interview is one thing - no hard feelings but this is massively unfair and I’d be looking to leave/ transfer at least in the knowledge you’ve some excellent material ready xor future applications. It shows a lack of ethics and judgement that would not make me want to continue working for them.

Well, yes, it would have been, but now is the OP’s opportunity to have that conversation. If they blatantly say, nah, we just want your PPT, then she knows where she stands and refusing will seem a lot more reasonable.

My husband has had this happen to him several times over the years. It’s even worse with external roles, because companies can use the lengthy interview process as free consultancy, without the candidate even realising it. The tricky part is that it can be difficult to demonstrate what you can bring to the role without giving away all your ideas. He’s learned how to navigate interviews without revealing too much. You want my ideas? Hire me first!

I would absolutely not be handing it over. If it's successful you won't be mentioned and if it's an absolute disaster your name might come up even though you had no influence whatsoever. I would tell them you agree that it was great pitch but there will be challenges that you are already anticipating and you are not willing to hand over the pitch without having any further involvement to ensure it will be a success.

This - if your ideas are implemented, successfully, it could be of benefit to you when applying for both internal and external jobs in the future.

I hate this, it's like when they ask all the candidates selected for interview to do a demanding presentation about a particular live issue, they are effectively getting free consultancy

Depends on whether you’re married to Richard Branson or whether you’re a single mum whose ex pays £0 CM. My response for each scenario would be vastly different.

Do not tell people you deleted it, that's a silly idea. They aren't going to fall for that for one second and most files are recoverable anyway.

As some other people have said, being professional and honest is the best way forward here. Whether you go down the route of trying to make an opportunity out of it, eg carving out time of your day to day to support the delivery of it. Or whether you are more blunt and express your surprise and confusion at the ask when they rejected you for the job, both of those methods are better than the whole deleting it nonsense.

I assume the idea is your own intellectual property anyway, in which case they see being very cheeky indeed and you are well in your rights to refuse.

It's ridiculous to say you deleted it. You'll come across badly.

At the moment you've elevated yourself from someone they'd probably never considered for the role to someone the company are now looking at as 'great potential'.

I'd go with something more along the lines of Thanks for your interest. I'd be more than happy to explain further and I've done some additional thinking around x since the interview.
As you know through the creation of the post, it's very hard to carve out time for longer term planning/change. I'd be pleased to support the successful applicant with this.
Will there be a workstream/group and time set aside to work on this? It would be great to gain additional experience in this area and I'd be delighted to be part of it.

Something polite that positions you as part of it.