I thought i was good at my job..

[Deleted User]

But I just found out that 3 members of my team who I thought I was more able than and who've been there less time than me, they've all received promotions and i've not.

I just don't get it - I try my best at work, I have worked on several high profile projects, I even run a training course (which none of those guys promoted do) and yet i've been passed over for promotion. It really hit me when I found out, and I decided that i need to do something about it.

I was depending on a promotion this year in order to get a decent payrise when the annual appraisals start in september (payrises and promotions don't happen at the same time). Because i've not had a promotion, i know my payrise will suck. What's worse, in order to move on to another job, I needed to show some sign of career progression within 2 years (I was told that by a friend in HR at another firm)

I've got a big mortgage to pay and its not getting easier to get by with nothing left over every month, especially watching my savings get chipped away. I don't want to tell my girlfriend because I feel like a failure and I don't know what to do.

Sorry about the rant, just needed to get a few things off my chest.

firesidemaid

are these promotions automatic or do staff have to apply for them/new roles?

when was your last appraisal and what was it like?

i would ask your line manager or someone similar why they have been promoted and not you - or ask when will you be promoted or what do you have to do? remember there is always the chance they have got some other promotion lined up for you....

i work in the nhs, so we would have to apply for a different role/job to get a true promotion. it never just happens, however hard you work or how much extra you do.

p.s. if you know you do a good job feel proud of it.

Elsiesgirl

Been there, done that Ringo and know exactly how you feel. I think you should speak to your line manager and HR to find out why and what you need to do to get promoted. They may have something in mind for you but don't leave it and wait. Sazzacat is right, you should be proud of yourself. You are not a failure, the management are, so tell your girlfriend.

You will get what you want in the end, I'm sure of it. Good luck

Dumyat

If you dont know why then you have to ask. if you dont know what their expectations are then you are never going to meet them. its not about you failing. maybe you should write down all you have achieved and then ask for some feedback. I've worked places where some members of staff are very good at showing off how good they are( and they are crap) , whereas the people actually doing the work well arent (not sure that makes sense)

this is the case in my team at the moment. one member of staff "shines" at staff meetings with our boss, but to be honest she is the worst member of the team.

Elsiesgirl

Makes sense to me Dogrose. It annoys me that management always favour the big talkers not the doers.

studentphil

Come on Matey you do not really think you are a failure. You know what a wonderful person you are inside deeply and truly. You really need to ask why you have not been promoted. Is there no appeal or way of making them reconsider their position.

What about putting it on the table that if you don't have a promotion then you will have to leave? That could focus their minds.

studentphil

As for your girlfriend, she will love you just the same as ever and still think you are the best man in the world.

Dumyat

if I was your girlfriend I would be upset you couldnt tell me something that is obviously bothering you a lot. its not about being a failure. you are not a failure.

[Deleted User]

Promotions are automatic here, one day your manager will just wander over and tell you that you've been promoted. Your job role doesn't even change most of the time, since we are all aiming for the same 'architect' job role.

I really wanted to get that promotion asap as I want out of the place I currently work. We work unpaid weekends on call and on customers sites. There's odd inequalities - some people are 'virtual' so they can work from home and then expense trips to the office, while others aren't. We do work extremely similar to well-paid consultancy firms, yet the salaries here are below industry averages and there's no bonus system.

I can still remember my worst decision here: it was 18 months ago and I was asked if i wanted to work on a project in Ireland. Now, our 'big project' is all based in england. Because I never managed to get a decent role on that big project I've been very much 'off the radar'.

My team is excellent, there's about 30 of us and there's no politics. There's no show offs, there's no office braggers and the guys promoted are not 'big talkers'. I feel i've really not been in the right place at the right time - either that or I'm just not very good at my job. I do lack assertiveness in client meetings when there's senior members of our team around to answer questions, but this doesn't happen too often.

I guess there's also a element of personal jealousy - my girlfriend recently got promoted at work (she's NHS) and is very highly favoured by her boss's - rightly so because she's excellent at her job.

Cheers for the support guys, I think i'm gonna just try to jump ship and go work elsewhere.. it'll take a while to find something though

Dumyat

why dont you still ask for some feedback from your team leader even if you are planning to jump ship. (with out saying your plans ) surely there must be something more than being in the right place at the right time. And I dont mean that in a negative way. maybe like your saying you feel you are not assertive enough in meetings, maybe you are not being assertive enough in asking for promotion.


edit: I would add you would need to make it come over in the right way - not wingeing because the others have got promotion. say what you like about the job, what you are good at...but what kind of advice can you give me about getting on?

[Deleted User]

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