Dedicated employee ponders leaving job after getting skipped for promotion in favor of external candidate: 'I have been at my job for 2 years, going above and beyond every single day'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 16, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

The contemporary working world is one that is full of contradictions. One of the biggest of these is that working hard at your job and fulfilling all the requirements of the role doesn't necessarily mean that you will get rewarded for it. You would think that businesses would have every incentive to pay attention to those employees who give them their best, but it often doesn't work that way. They usually see things differently.

This was something that one worker found out to their detriment when a position a couple of levels higher than theirs opened up in their company. Despite working their hardest for two years and obtaining an interview, the company went with an external candidate on the basis that they didn't think their existing employee had enough experience. This had them querying if it was time to move on, and many people agreed with this. It's best to go where you are appreciated.

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    Cheezburger Image 10404592128
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Photo does not represent real subject in the story

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    GBR, LLC @GayBearRes Follow At 90% of companies, the best move is to leave after 2-3 years without killing yourself trying to be the best. It's not you, most hard work goes completely unrewarded.
    via GayBearRes
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    r/careerguidance u/Professional-Law4320 15h Hired external candidate. Should I quit? I am devastated. I have been at my job for 2 years, going above and beyond every single day. Never saying no and basically doing the job of 3 people. Im currently a level 3. Recently a level 5 position became open on my team (this position would be a promotion), and they decided to go with someone external. Their reasoning? Although I am very qualified and HAVE BEEN doing the work of this level 5 position, there
    via GayBearRes
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    Quentin @QuentinWach .7h Replying to @GayBearRes The whole concept of levels is absurd and evil. Even more so if they are tied to arbitrary standards like a certain degree or a certain number of git commits or the number of internal tools you created.
    via QuentinWach
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    MikeG @rhpMike -1d Replying to @GayBearRes Don't disagree with a lot being said here, but another thing is that making yourself irreplaceable is a surefire way to not get promoted. In this person's case, they'd have to hire 3 people to replace him/her. Not gonna happen.
    via rhpMike
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    BADGRAPHIX @badgraphix • 1d Replying to @GayBearRes The company I'm at promoted me after a year and a half with a 10% pay raise. Should I still stick with the 2-3 year approach or wait 2-3 years after getting that position?
    via badgraphix
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    Manny @Manny_NZ • 1d Replying to @GayBearRes. A colleague once said "I could make a machine that showed next weeks newspaper, and the boss would say 'well done' and pay me a bonus. And then next year he'd turn around and say 'ok, what have you done this year to earn your keep"". It's a cautionary tale about employment.
    via Manny_NZ
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    vanko ❤ @cousin_vanko Replying to @GayBearRes Follow I was the first Engineer hired at a startup, averaged 13 hour days, never took vacation, got a 3% raise and no bonus year end. Was just laid off 3 weeks ago, didn't pay me the unused vacation since it wasn't state law. Moral of the story, work as little as possible without getting fired, take your vacations
    via cousin_vanko
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    Ewan Makepeace @ewanmakepeace Replying to @GayBearRes Follow You need to leave NOW before the new hire is up to speed. Otherwise they wont get to regret their hiring decision.
    via ewanmakepeace
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    Laptop Mercenary @maceskridge •1d: Replying to @GayBearRes This is a reason to move jobs. I still (ironically, knowing my account name) think it's ok to work at one place for a long time, when there is career progression, good pay, and good culture. 50%+ of managers are toxic, so if you don't have a toxic manager, pray to God in thanks
    via maceskridge
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    peaceloveprosperity @degenmoongirl Replying to @GayBearRes Follow I quit after 1 year, works like a charm and I've been lucky enough to snag 3 401ks. Loyalty is not for those who are unloyal to you. Do the work, get paid and leave when you are disrespected. Most people can't stand up for themselves and their worth... lucky for me courage pays off
    via degenmoongirl
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    commerce @commerce 1d Replying to @GayBearRes • Really and truly, the larger the company the more replaceable you are. My favorite are the no-raise, 3x the responsibility, unsolicited promotions you're not allowed to turn down.
    via commerce
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    Autist Army @AutistArmy • 1d Replying to @Gay BearRes Boss told me he couldn't promote or transfer me cuz as best performer on team by far (awards every quarter, best in all of USA & Canada combined), his stats'd get wrecked if I left & he really wanted to make higher level mgmt so I was stuck for doing stellar job. I left company.
    via AutistArmy
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    Johnny Black @JohnnyBlack_HS. 1d Replying to @GayBearRes I became so disillusioned with this I quit the traditional job market entirely. I WANT to work hard. I want to care. I want to strive for mastery. Couldn't handle the dissonance.
    via JohnnyBlack_HS
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    Joey @Joey_FS + 1d Replying to @GayBearRes The reward for hard work is *checks notes* more work!
    via Joey_FS
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    FloopDoopz ❤ @FloopDoopz. 1d Replying to @Gay BearRes My employer promoted me every 2-3 years until I hit a senior level (no promos left except management). The nice thing about sticking around is you can coast because you know the work and you lose the incentive to grind for more promotions. If that's not the case, then job hop.
    via FloopDoopz
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    hydrocuck @abbracadabra_ · 16h The only reward for hard work is more work. Gotta move with that knowledge
    via abbracadabra_
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    ECSTATIC DONUT @ecstatic donut 1d If you're putting in 120% at a job that that doesn't have a viable commission structure, you've made a passion of a job that will never value you as much you value it. Choose to deserve something better. Giving 70% and being told, "Wow, good job," is its own victory.
    via ecstatic_donut
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    Angelo Alcid ▶ 薛安治... @AngeloAlcid Follow At a previous employer, there was an opening where my skills and experience lined up perfectly, and the hiring manager liked me. I was told by HR that because of my job level at the time, I couldn't apply as an internal candidate. (But I could quit and apply if I wanted to.)
    via AngeloAlcid
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    kohelet contrarian @koheletdomain Follow The issue is hard work does get noticed. Why would you remove such a person from their current position? The company would have to hire 3 people to replace him. Also, the external hire will probably be cheaper as they're not getting the raise
    via koheletdomain

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