As you progress in your career, you may find yourself chasing promotion opportunities. Sometimes, you will have demonstrated that your ready for the next level and are fortunate enough to receive a promotion. Unfortunately, on the flip side, there might be times when you are turned down for a promotion. Getting rejected for a promotion is never fun. In this article, I am going to share some examples from my career where I was turned down for a promotion and how I dealt with it.
Not Getting Branch Manager – the First Time
My first role upon graduating from university was working with a major rental car company. Working long hours, for little pay, picking customers up, trying to sell collision damage waiver and upgrade them to more expensive vehicles, while also cleaning cars in a suit, wasn’t fun. The pitch as a Management Trainee was that I would learn all aspects of running a business. The good news is that I did, on route to eventually becoming Branch Manager of the Year in 2011. The road to get there wasn’t easy, though, and I found myself turned down for a few promotions on the way to getting there.
Being Over-Confident & Getting Turned Down for a Promotion
One memorable example was when I was working as an Assistant Manager in Waterloo, Ontario. I had made way up the ranks to Assistant Manager, working at one of the largest locations in southwestern Ontario, in terms of fleet-size. Money was decent, as was the opportunity to work closely with a fantastic branch manager, Paul. He taught me so much about the business and how to lead. When an opportunity arose to apply for a position as a Branch Manager, we knew I was ready. I threw my name into the hat. I had the best numbers and performance overall, so to me, the job was mine to lose.
Do More Research
After having what I thought was a great interview, I confidently waited to hear the good news, only to find out I didn’t get the role. How could I not have gotten promoted? I had the best performance, most likely the best track record and examples, and I was sure my interview was better. Unfortunately, I later learned that I did not have a good interview. It turned out that I failed to connect the dots for the Area Manager interviewing me. He didn’t feel I demonstrated enough of the corporate account experience required at the branch. Looking back, I failed to do enough research on the location and the type of experience profile needed. Lesson learned: prep and do the right kind of research to understand what the interviewer is looking for in a candidate.
Not Being Promoted to Senior Leadership – the First Time
Later, in my career at a different organization, a Senior Leadership position opened. I had been anticipating this role was going to arise for some time. My direct leader, who was in the role previously, had left the organization to pursue an outside opportunity. I thought, who better than me knew the role, the department, and drove the strategy since the previous leader left the organization over a year ago? I felt like I was doing the job. With my résumé already prepped, I asked if I could apply for the role, and to my surprise, the answer was no. The opportunity in question wasn’t a replica of my previous leader’s position, so the hiring manager was looking for a unique skillset and experience that I didn’t possess.
Use Getting Rejected for a Promotion as Fuel
For over a year, I had assumed, as had others, that I would be next in line. Feeling in a state of shock and disappointment, I still chose to accept that it wasn’t my time. Instead of being angry about it, I developed an “I’ll show you” mentality. I planned to use the rejection to fuel my efforts. I spent the next few months, pushing myself even harder, working a crazy number of hours. As time went on, it was clear that the position I was chasing wasn’t for me. It occurred to me that I was chasing a title, that sure came with more accountabilities and better compensation, but the nature of the role wasn’t something I was passionate about, or I saw being something I would want long-term. For the first time in years, receiving that promotion would have been a bad thing for me.
Not Getting Promoted Can Sometimes Be Good
I know I would have been looking for the next promotion shortly into that role, instead of focusing on the position I had just gained. Not getting that position was one of the best things to never have happened for me. Instead of trying to chase a promotion, I shifted my focus to things I am more passionate about. Along the way, I began to realize that the most important thing for me wasn’t a title or money. For me, what I care most about is being happy. Looking back, I dodged a bullet as that wouldn’t have been happy in that role.
Choose Your Reaction – Upset & Disengaged or Motivated & Hungry?
When you unsuccessfully chase a promotion, it sucks. Yes, it hurts to fail , especially when you are so excited about an opportunity. Beyond these two examples shared, I’ve been unsuccessful at other times throughout my career, and I have come to be thankful for it. It’s the journey and the process that excites me more than anything else these last few years. Who knows where any of us go in our careers?
If things don’t go your way, it’s up to you to decide how you will react. Will you show signs of disengagement? I’ve been there, and it’s not fun. Or will you use rejection as motivation as fuel to follow your passion? Learn from the times where you don’t get what you want, and you might realize that what you never wanted that opportunity in the first place.
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