'I'm completely baffled': Worker gets passed over for promotion they were asked to apply for in favor of less experienced coworker

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Oct 27, 2023 9:00 AM EDT

When you're the go-to person in your workplace, continually asked to step up or fill in for your boss when they're away and taking on their excess work when they're overloaded, you'd probably expect that you'd be the next in line for promotion, a shoo-in, essentially having already displayed an aptitude for that level of work. You might especially expect this if you had worked in similar roles in the past and had taken a step down when moving into your current role for reasons not related to performance.

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  • So, with all of this in mind, you can probably imagine the surprise that this worker felt when they had the rug pulled out from under them in being passed over for a promotion that they were asked to apply for. They had no issue with their coworker who was successful in their bid for the promotion, but they expressed their frustration at having been passed over when they had more experience and, on paper, were much more qualified. 

    Still, there are some hiring managers out there who make decisions for some pretty strange reasons and the reason could be something as simple as the candidate and the interviewer connected over the fact that they shared the same alma mater. Or, maybe the organization recognizes that the worker is so valuable in their current role that they made the decision to keep them there, as organizations often do. Whatever the reason, it's clear here that this remains true: The world is a strange place that often doesn't make a whole lot of logical sense.

    See the worker's post below that they originally submitted to a popular community for workplace discussion. 

  • 01
    Textile - "I'm shocked and a bit hurt... node "I
    via Tim Gouw
  • 02
    Font - Passed over for a promotion and I'm gutted. What now? Advice Hi All, Looking for some advice on processing being passed over for a promotion. I have been in this role for two years, in the industry for seven and today I was passed over for a promotion I
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 03
    Font - already see myself as over-qualified for by a recent grad in his first job. I say that not in an entitled sense, but because I took the role I'm currently in because the last role I had was technically higher and at a more prestigious firm, but the politics there burned me out, so I took this one as an escape route.
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 04
    Font - We have both been in this role for about two years. He started two months before me, but at a lower rank and was promoted to my level about two months after I started. Out of my team of 8, we both have stand-out work ethics in comparison to the rest of the team, but my "desk" is more
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 05
    Font - complex, I log more hours and have taken less vacation, and my metrics show more productivity. I am also more of a point man for the lower levels on the team to come to, run client calls because the VP is always unprepared, and have been the person to run meetings when the VP
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 06
    Font - is out, so I'm completely baffled at this decision. My monthly reviews have been nothing but stellar. I'm often annoyed because the feedback is all positive and gives me nothing constructive to work on. The VP told me to apply for this position on the internal career portal
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 07
    Font - when it opened up. HR called me the next day and said it was basically down to logistics, and the interview was basically my team lead and I talking about hobbies and nothing technical. The two of us are very close, and often hang out outside of work, so I'm
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 08
    Font - genuinely happy for him, but it doesn't take the sting out of being passed over. I go out of my way to build rapport with everyone we work with, volunteer my lunches every Wednesday (sometimes alone) for the food bank we're partnered with, restarted an internal network for socializing/volunteering that fell apart
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 09
    Font - during covid, and have hosted events featuring partners and C-Suite, while he just coordinates the co-ed softball team. I love my team, the firm, the job and my coworkers, but I'm feeling deflated and under-appreciated and considering taking a job elsewhere. I asked directly for feedback, and the department head gave me lip service,
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 10
    Font - saying I'm doing everything right, should continue doing the things I'm doing, and he sees a promotion on the horizon; basically confusing me even more because on paper, I was the shoe-in and don't have an explanation for being passed over.
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 11
    Font - My cousin told me he could get me a job paying about 25k more at our rival, which I'm considering, but I've developed relationships here and was enjoying the culture. But it doesn't spell "future development" to me if I'm being passed over by recent grads in their first role.
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 12
    Font - Sorry for the text wall, but I'm shocked and a bit hurt. I'm genuinely happy for my friend, as he is capable, but I don't feel like working tomorrow now. Do I leave for another opportunity or just stay professional and keep plugging away?
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 13
    Font - IDont WannaBeAPirate_. Leave. But leave on a good note, you may get hired back on at this company in a few years. FO companies for doing what they did to you here. You were passed over because you're propping up your current area and they don't have someone that will do your job like you're doing. 223 Reply Share
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 14
    Font - BennetHB Hi man, sorry you're going through this. If it's any consolation it happens to everyone, just the first time it happens it hurts. As for what to do now? It's all a game man, so treat it like one. Here you want more cash, a promotion, a better job. Your current workplace has sent a clear message to you that they don't think you deserve one right now.
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 15
    Font - So apply elsewhere, get someone else to give you that job. Maybe talk to your cousin, an extra $25k would be sweet. I otherwise understand your concerns about relationships and culture. The pure truth is workplace culture and relationships are temporary by their nature. Even if you stay,
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 16
    Font - neither of these will last as others get jobs elsewhere. It only takes a change of one person to change the culture completely, for your formerly awesome workplace becomes hQl. On the bright side, 2 years in a role is a great time to jump to another one. Keep on pushing upwards, be proactive in creating opportunities for yourself. Good luck! 59 Reply Share ●●●
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 17
    Font - DonDonStudent Time to move. As you are too valuable where u are now in the company. Reply Share 64
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 18
    Font - Javascripted69. I had someone without a technical background beat me out of a senior software engineering position only to have him constantly ask me questions on how to do his job.
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 19
    Font - I left and from what I heard from my ex-coworkers he got fired for poor performance months after because he was in way over his head. My current employer is just as good if not better. Just like with dating, there's plenty of fish in the sea. I know leaving might be scary but there's plenty of good employers out there. Reply Share 34
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 20
    Font - Time-8dg-4271 Look for a new position (promotion) elsewhere while you're employed. Find an employer that recognizes and pays you your worth. Advice: if you turn in your
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle
  • 21
    Font - resignation and current company gives you a counter offer, do not accept it. They didn't appreciate you enough before the resignation notice & too bad for them. 25 Reply Share
    via u/ThatOneDrunkUncle

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