What to Do if You Didn’t Get the Promotion

Getting passed over at work stings. A few years ago in-house lawyers could have their picks of other jobs because the market was so hot. Unfortunately that’s not the case now. WSJ reports job openings are down by 8.6% and the number of people quitting jobs is down 2.6% compared to last year, but gives these helpful tips:

1. Stay put and learn! Your company may well value you even if you weren’t selected for a competitive job; some companies give out retention bonuses and good assignments to retain good employees, for example.
2. Plan how you will respond if you are not promoted. The article cites a Microsoft employee who “sought constructive criticism, requested a mentor, and asked for a clear path to a bigger role.” He was promoted in six months and credits having the “right relationships,” focusing on the business challenges called out by leadership, and coming up with “replicable solutions that made everyone else around [him] better.” A career consultant recommends that immediately after you get the bad news to “propose an experiment that, if successful, will show you’re innovative and ready for more responsibility. You also might ask for the company to send you to a conference or, better yet, nominate you as a speaker. The idea is to raise your profile and expand your network to set you up for the next promotion bid.” Think about “what you can trade into that drives up your market value.” Finally, an executive coach recommends directly asking managers “what it will take to advance.” Understand what they are hesitant about and have data to combat doubts when you ask again.
3. Ask if your company will give you a coach. (I recommend you first determine if your company has a precedent for providing coaching before making the request.) The ask “shows you’re hungry to improve and humble enough to seek help.” The article points out “it’s a way to find out where you stand. If the company is willing to invest in leadership training, that’s an endorsement of your potential; if not, well, take the hint.”
4. Know everyone has setbacks. A former CEO wisely said “Rather than focusing on what I didn’t get, I focused on what I could control—learning, growing and contributing at the highest level where I was… I sought out mentors, sharpened my skills and made sure that the next time an opportunity arose, I would be undeniably ready.”