Work related stress, empty promises?

Jlawson118

Apologised in advance for the long post, but I'm in a situation I don't know where I can turn at the moment. Cutting to the chase, I've been offered two promotions within the space of a year to which I've been let down twice on. I know a company is not obliged to promote somebody but it does take liberties a little bit when numerous people have continued to promise.

I started around a year ago, part time whilst I was about to start my final year of university, and from the very beginning I was promised the 'Graduate Scheme' for this year, by my own manager, by his manager and by their HR Business Partner when she interviewed me. All three, as well as my own colleagues told me the company 100% prefer to hire from within opposed to externally on things like this. Being a huge company, I thought it'd be great to get involved with and be a good career start.

Around January time I was questioning the scheme, i.e, when can I start applying for it? How can I apply with me being internal? And was simply told by one of the senior managers "We're not doing one this year. But there's a position lower down from it where you'd be supervising and training people." Which I accepted. Four months after this I was still not put forwards for it until my own manager did.
I'd finished university and had been doing full night shifts to help out due to being short staffed. Finishing at 8:30am, they decided to interview myself and another colleague this particular day. Him getting his interview at 8:30am, and mine at 13:00. I knew from the start that senior management had set me up to fail. My own manager tried to push it forwards but his management wouldn't let us. So I was tired, yet I still did absolutely everything in the marking criteria (that I saw later on) and was failed. Yet the other guy passed, and is due to train me up on something tomorrow that he's never worked on before and I have! How does that work?!

Regardless, I noticed the Graduate Scheme become available to apply for on the careers website. So much for 'We're not doing it this year" to which I applied for, and was invited to a face to face interview. The man who interviewed me skipped the majority of questions, and sat there and answered the majority of other ones for me, he wouldn't let me get a word in edgeways. Thinking it seemed a positive interview and like he was pushing me forwards, I was quite shocked to wake up to an email saying "Apologises but you were unsuccessful." which goes without saying, they're hiring somebody externally that the company do not like doing?! :mad:

I feel like I've been set up to fail both of these. There's a senior manager who I know doesn't like me, I had an interview for the job I'm in now and he rejected me. It took a second application to get it. I questioned him a few months ago as to why he didn't give me it, his response "You'd mentioned you had a minor injury in your last job and I couldn't risk that happening here." :mad: I spoke to some managers from another site elsewhere who told me you should never tell senior management you've got a degree otherwise they will fail you on these things because they're scared you're going to steal their jobs.

Quite frankly I'm not after any of their jobs. I just want to kickstart my own career. But I was on holiday last week and took some time to think about things, and I realised just how much they're taking advantage of people within the company in general, how I've worked my backside off for them all year round and for what? Not a single bit of appreciation. I went back on Wednesday and I just feel this constant dread of going in now. Nobody should have to feel that about going back to work. It's not doing my stress levels or mental health in general any good.

I'm actively looking for a new job but it's not easy. But I'm also feeling very used, and let down. I am a member of the union but I don't know if it is a matter for them. The job was great when I first started but since the new year they've continued to severely cut staff yet increase the workload for everybody and it's become a very stressful place to work. And I've lost my motivation after everything.

Is there any advice out there for all of this? And possibly on how to move on from this setback?

sangie595

I'm afraid there's no entitlement to either promotions or pay rises, and whilst there are some good employers out there, there are plenty that you won't like. Good, bad or indifferent, they are out for themselves - business needs come before you every time. You expect appreciation? That won't happen that often, and all you can expect is paying. They're cutting staff. Welcome to the real world - everyone is, and they all expect more work for less money and less staff.

That may sound very pessimistic. But you need to adjust your rose tinted view of the world of work. Unless you have your own business, it will never be about you. If not getting promoted, or working harder causes undue stress and mental health problems, you really need to toughen up big time. What you have described is an average workplace, and you are in for a very rough ride if you are going to break down because your employer doesn't appreciate you. Work is to make a living to do things you enjoy. If you happen to have a job that you love, that's a bonus- but it certainly isn't most people's experience, which is why lottery tickets sell well!

Les79

Welcome to life.

sangie595

This is the part time warehouse job? I think you also might have unrealistic expectations about where a warehouse job will take you.

Fireflyaway

Did you ask for feedback? Even if someone ticks the boxes they might come across in a way that doesn't align with the companies values or not be seen as a good team player / appear opinionated etc. For example I interviewed someone recently who gave ok answers but sat with her arms folded throughout. She appeared really grumpy and defensive. I'm not saying you are this way but sometimes it's a feeling interviewers have. After what you have said I'd be tempted to leave. If you don't like the management find a better fit. I'm not sure I agree that managers think you will steal their job if you have a degree. It's very common to have a degree these days.

MovingForwards

There are loads of companies that do graduate jobs, widen your search.

Also, set yourself a limit as to how many knockbacks you will take before deciding enough is enough as this company clearly are not for you.

NCC-1707

The OP appears to have had his 'problems' with jobs he's had in the past too.

[Deleted User]

NCC-1707 wrote: »

The OP appears to have had his 'problems' with jobs he's had in the past too.

whoopiedo - your highness.

Round here, on this forum, it is ten cheers in admiration if you go sick, as a way to 'fixing problems', I do believe. So really how is that better behaviour.

So funnily enough, I doubt you would say the say rather unpleasant thing about someone, clearly, 'off sick as the easiest solution'. I've read posts from people sick who say such things like they hate their horrible boss and seen nothing gets said to them.

OP interviews are pretty much like customer service - do not take it personally.

Jlawson118

sangie595 wrote: »

This is the part time warehouse job? I think you also might have unrealistic expectations about where a warehouse job will take you.

Yep it’s the same job, but it was more the careeer aspirations for the future that I suppose drew me in, being a big company around Europe (that I won’t mention on here) I thought it would be a good opportunity to gain that experience for the future. But the pay was going to be great and the I would still get the opportunity to work with the great people I’ve connected with over the last year. So I was expecting it to take me to better things but I suppose you’re right

Jlawson118

Fireflyaway wrote: »

Did you ask for feedback? Even if someone ticks the boxes they might come across in a way that doesn't align with the companies values or not be seen as a good team player / appear opinionated etc. For example I interviewed someone recently who gave ok answers but sat with her arms folded throughout. She appeared really grumpy and defensive. I'm not saying you are this way but sometimes it's a feeling interviewers have. After what you have said I'd be tempted to leave. If you don't like the management find a better fit. I'm not sure I agree that managers think you will steal their job if you have a degree. It's very common to have a degree these days.

My manager went through what was supposed to be ‘constructive feedback’ from the interviewer on the supervisor interview. Which all every comment read “he does not meet the company qualities.” To which even my manager was saying it wasn’t correct. But it was out of his control. But I remember the interviewer leaving the room for five minutes and I took a glance at one of his sheets for the criteria of a presentation and did everything it said on there. Still got graded 1/5. He was a very condescending man to begin with.

The graduate scheme, it’s more I can’t wrap my head around the positivity of the interview and then the rejection. I did email the guy for his response “I did tell you it was yes or no, I just felt their were stronger candidates.” Which is fair enough. But he never really gave me much of a chance to speak at the interview. As I said in my OP, he seemed to skip questions or answer them himself anyway :mad:

I understand that I suppose it can be the little things at times though

Jlawson118

NCC-1707 wrote: »

The OP appears to have had his 'problems' with jobs he's had in the past too.

This is my third ever job. First I loved but it was a Christmas temp job so my contract was terminated after the busy period and unfortunately had to leave.
My second was a very poor job to which I’m still being encouraged to take them to court after a workplace injury that wasn’t my fault.

My third and current one I’ve been in almost a year, which to a point I do enjoy, I’ve met some great people, the pay is very good. So it isn’t all bad, it’s just empty promises but it’s like most comments on here, every company is the same.

So I’ve only ever had one bad job in the past