There can be many reasons that a person wasn’t promoted. In commenting on a post featured on LinkedIn (included below), I would like to offer a few of the potential reasons that you may have been passed up this time, but it may be worth staying in your current job and not looking for a new one.
First, start with an honest self-assessment of why you might not have been promoted. Maybe you aren’t ready and need more experience in your current role, perhaps this is a management role where more growth is required for you to be effective as a supervisor, or you haven’t demonstrated specific skills for the next level.
Our inclination is to “blame” someone when we don’t achieve what we want. We like to say there is favoritism, the company only rewards certain people, they only care about seniority, or even company rules (like must have a degree for a management role) that are in place aren’t fair.
Remember, a “no” isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and it could be merely temporary. Get some honest feedback from superiors, utilize a mentor, get a coach (if necessary), and use your own honest self-feedback that doesn’t include the blame game. You might find a skill or two that needs boosting, a certification that you should pursue, or have the willingness to admit you weren’t ready for the next step.
With honest self-reflection and great feedback, you can make the best decision on how to move forward. Perspective is everything, and if you have done all of the above, and still feel you have been overlooked, then, and only then, it may be time to move elsewhere. The grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side!
I would advise evaluating what you have presently – do you have decent pay and benefits, good coworkers, great boss, good company overall, etc. A shift in how you view what you do have can avoid switching companies and being just as, or even more unhappy somewhere else. While initial focus on where you could improve can be difficult, you might discover areas for growth that could bolster your career beyond where you ever thought possible. Be honest with yourself, it will pay huge dividends.
POST Karen Comment on, from LinkedIn:
Weren’t promoted? Hang tight
By Laura Entis, Editor at LinkedIn News
The desire to find a new role after getting passed over for a promotion is understandable. But deciding to stay and take stock of the situation could be the better move, especially in today’s tough job market, The Wall Street Journal notes. With the right mindset, it’s possible to turn a rejected promotion into an opportunity to secure higher-profile assignments, negotiate a retention bonus or simply nail down a strategy for making the cut next time around.