When Your Colleague Gets Promoted and Not You

A friend called me up that day, completely upset. “You know A? She has only been working for the company for three years and she got that promotion I wanted! I don’t get it – I’ve been working here for five years and do everything I’ve been asked… So why didn’t I get the job?”

If this is you, well – you’ll want to read this article. One of the hardest things to deal with at work is being passed over for a promotion. The only thing that can top that is when your colleague gets the new managerial role instead – so now, you’ll be reporting to someone who used to be your peer at work!

How much does that suck? Completely. We get it – nobody wants to be sidelined at work, especially if you feel like you’ve put in so much effort and hours into your job. So why her, and not you?

Well, for starters – if you think you deserve that promotion simply because you’ve worked there longer, newsflash: It doesn’t work that way. Seniority does not immediately equate to automatic promotion. Just being in a company for a lengthy period of time and working hard is not enough to get you promoted. There are many other reasons that come into play; bottom line is, you need to do the important work that can really showcase your potential (and it doesn’t just mean meeting deadlines).

So here we go: Three solid reasons why your colleague got promoted and not you.

#1 She puts herself out there
In an organisation with so many potentials, a promotion is not a guarantee even if you managed to snag a few solid wins for your company. While you and your colleague may have equal strengths and have showcased potential, she could have a higher up simply because she makes it known while you maintain a down low. Thinking that if you excel, your boss would know it no longer works. What she’s doing differently is telling your boss about the things she’s accomplished and hope to gain. In short, she’s broadcasting her wins while you’re keeping it mum.

Here's the thing: Leaders see and feel. If you don’t feed your boss with something to see and feel, chances are that promotion will go to someone who is not afraid of putting their achievements in the spotlight to be seen and heard.

#2 She has the right skills needed right now
Even if you have a great performance review and have consistently shown excellent results at work, you may be missing some vital skills required to perform well in the new role. Your colleague may have these skills, which is why she was picked and not you for the promotion. Maybe she’s better at communicating her thoughts and ideas, which is very important when you’re moving up the ladder. Or she has an additional hard skill that will allow her to do better in the new role faster while you don’t have that skill readily available to jump into action. If this is the situation, look at how you can equip yourself better for the next rounds of promotion. Look into online courses or programmes, or even talk to your boss on how you can hone that skill.

#3 She had a chat with the boss about her career goals. You didn’t
Again – just because you’re doing well, you assume your boss knows that being promoted is in the cards for you. Big mistake. The thing is a lot of times, because bosses are always so busy, they need to be told that we want to move forward in our career. You can’t assume that your boss knows you’re open to a new and more challenging role. Perhaps your colleague thought further ahead and knew that she had to convey her career goals with your boss to make them a reality. The rule is this: If nobody knows, nobody will do anything.

So consider scheduling a time to sit down with your manager to discuss your career goals and your future with the company. A simple discussion could involve you telling your boss that you are up for more opportunities to flex your skills and hopefully move up within the company in the future. Share the skills you have that will come in handy, and seek advice on what you need to do next to secure the promotion that has your name on it.

Did this ever happen to you? Tell us how you dealt with it @Graduan!

Photo by Mulyadi on Unsplash.