Employer recruiting someone external

TF03

Hi all,

A little bit of background info -

I've been with my current employer for almost 4 years now. In that time I have had several roles due to the demands of the business as well as stepping up to cover managers etc when required. I am considered (some trumpet blowing here) to be well respected in the business and quite often a first point of call for any issues or questions.

18 months ago, I applied for an Area manager position (a level up from where I was at the time). It was between myself and an external candidate. She got the role as at the time, the company was winding down a contract which she had more experience of than me. Fair enough. No issues. I was told (and it's in writing in a development plan) that I would be developed into a team leader/manager position due to how well I had done at the interview and the work I had done previously.

Fast forward to now, and we have just started on a new contract (in Jan). We were told that to start with, we only needed one Area Manager but as the team grew more would be recruited. Today, I learned that a new area manager has been recruited. An external person. There was no advertisement either internally or externally. The first we knew of it was when we were told today in an email when she was starting.

Naturally, I'm feeling completely ticked off by this (especially as the person recruited is from an organisation I was with before who...well wasn't fondly looked upon).

Am I right in thinking that there isn't anything legally saying that a company has to advertise either internally or externally, but is there anything I can do or say at all? I've asked our HR for a copy of our recruitment policy to see if there is anything in there.

I don't want to be given a job because of any other reason that I've earned it. I have it in writing that the company would develop me into a management role and believed they would do this at the first opportunity for them to then not even give me a chance to interview for it....

Just smacks a little....

BorisThomson

There is nothing you can do. Accept that either they don't think you're ready right now or they've decided they're not going to support you in going for promotion.

You need to put your feelings towards the new manager behind you. If you don't it will not end well for you.

Dox

Does your employer claim to be an equal opportunities employer?

shortcrust

Well the obvious thing to do is talk to your managers and tell them what you’ve told us. But no, legally they’ve done nothing wrong with the recruitment and they can simply change their mind about the development promises.

The second obvious thing to do is to apply for jobs elsewhere. In my experience jumps in salary and responsibility are best achieved by moving on.

TBagpuss

legally they've done nothing wrong.
However, as Shortcrust says, it would be reasonable to speak to your manager.
Try not to come over as accusing them of anything, as that will be likely to make them defensive. However, it would be reasonable to say that you were surprised to learn that they had recruited externally given the feedback you had received, and your development plan.
Ask them if they can review your development plan with you and clarify whether there are skills that they feel you need to improve further, or to acquire, in order to progress, and ask about training to help you to get to that point.

It may be that someone dropped the ball and forgot about the development plan, its also possible that they feel you still need to improve in certain areas. Hopefully having the conversation will help you to identify what, if anything, you can or should be doing, and if you get the brush off, then start looking elsewhere.

ReadingTim

It's always a bruise to the ego when it's made clear that your employer doesn't rate you as highly as you rate yourself, but that's life. It's not illegal and unless you're in a public sector organisation, is unlikely to be against company policy either.

The reality of the matter is that it's often easier and better for the company to keep someone who's good at doing a job in that job, rather than promoting them to do something else, which they might not be so good at. The mantra that 'people are our most important asset' is just meaningless management-speak. It's also a fact that for more senior roles, it's easier to bring someone in from the outside who isn't accompanied by 'baggage' from a previous role in the organisation, good or bad.

You say you only want the job on merit, but also seem a bit hacked off because you felt it was "your turn" to be hired as Area Manager. If you're that confident in your abilities, you should walk into another job, so this is probably the push you need to start looking.

On the other hand, if you're first point of call merely because you've been around longer than many of the others, and have acted up in the past, then I guess you've just been made brutally aware that your company is absolutely fine with that, regardless of any empty promises they've made along the way - and may continue to make merely to keep you in post.

Sncjw

They could have been headhunted hence no advertisement.

elsien

18 months ago you were told you'd be developed into a managerial position
That should have meant that this was happening in the interim period, not that a role would come up and then you'd be developed into it. So what appraisals have you had in the meantime to discuss how this was going to happen?

So in your position I'd be considering what training/development you've actually had to meet the target. And if you've not had any, then now would be the time to have a meeting with your current line manager and draw up some specific SMART objectives that will allow you to attain the promotion.

Because an empty promise with no actions attached is pretty meaningless. And it's no use sitting there waiting for it to happen, you need to be proactive in assessing the areas you need support with, then finding out how to achieve it.

TF03

Thank you for your thoughts everyone.

I've had regular appraisals/121s since then and have raised my concerns however with the contract we were delivering at the time winding down and us starting the new one in January I was told that we will look to develop you and give you an opportunity then. So I guess in hindsight, just stringing me along a little bit.

I'll of course keep it all professional. Fortunately, the person they have taken on won't be my direct manager, just working alongside my current one and managing a different part of the county.

I guess this is the kick up the backside I need to look elsewhere now if I want to progress.

steampowered

Moving elsewhere is not necessarily a bad thing.

The facts indicate that people who move employer, on average, do better than people who stay in the same place for decades.

Les79

TF03 wrote: »

I have it in writing that the company would develop me into a management role and believed they would do this at the first opportunity for them to then not even give me a chance to interview for it....

Just smacks a little....

Well, it could be one of two probable things:

1. This is not a developmental opportunity. They need someone to "hit the ground running" and have chosen someone with experience over someone who they deem is not ready to "hit the ground running" (horrible stigma to have, but we've all been there!). Probably headhunted someone.

2. They are merely humoring you, and have little intention of ever developing you. Dangling a carrot so you do a job which nobody else wants to do.