Didn't get the job my boss encouraged me apply for...?

Transform_IT

Transform_IT

Transform_IT

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2012
Posts
474
Hey guys,

Bit of an odd one really...

I recently applied for the position of Team Leader for the team I am in now. There are two positions available and my manager, his manager and several other colleagues encouraged me to apply. It is something I wanted to do, and with their backing it made me feel more confident.

There was only me as an internal applicant and one external applicant. Neither of us got the position... There was another applicant (internally), but he dropped out at the last minute as the salary increase was significant to warrant the extra responsibility.

Anyway, I had my interview feedback where I found out I was unsuccessful for the reason... 'I don't have enough technical knowledge', however my competency interview was very good.

Now, after having the weekend to reflect on this... and speak to other individuals as part of my team... I don't know what it is I could have done better. I also was told that full training would be given and you wouldn't just be chucked in at the deep end. I then questioned if this was personal, as I have since found out they are going to look for more external applicants (these people would have even less technical experience than me).

The reason I thought it might be personal is the fact I applied for another internal position 9 months ago and was unsuccessful. You might think I am just a sore loser, but the interview was the best I have ever had... again 2 internal positions, 3 internal applicants. The other 2 go the job based on the fact they already hold a qualification needed... however, one of the candidates dropped out and the other couldn't start for 4 months. At the time I was told this position needed to be filled in 2 months as they had an important audit coming up. In the end they hired externally and put the new guy on the external course for the qualification. The original successful candidate ended up going on long term sick and never started their role and in the end they hired external to cover this long term absence with is looking to become permanent soon. Meanwhile I am left here... so hence the reason I am thinking it may be personal?

So... the things to consider here. I am shift worker at a lower grade of the team leader... however as the team leader is day work it would be less money by over £2k. Something I considered at the time and was happy with...

I am back in work tomorrow and going to ask for a chat with my boss and express my concerns. If I am limited in technical knowledge (which isn't needed for this role and can be learnt very quickly), surely it would be better to invest in me than go external? Also, the boss above the team leader has said he will temporarily fill in the position of the 2 x team leaders whilst maintaining his own role...

Any thoughts on this and how I should handle it? I am not a sore loser or a cry baby, but just feel I have some concerns and thoughts I need to raise... also, the new team leader roles were sold to the team as it was internal development opportunity, hence the reason I was encouraged to apply...

What would you do?

cheers
 
Been in a similar position and seen it with colleagues.

Could be down to them not wanting to have to train you and find a replacement for your current role when they could bring someone else straight in. Could be they just don't think you are suitable, could be someone doesn't like you, could be etc etc.....

I heard from one of my old managers when a colleague was going for a promotion that he always preferred external candidates as they were less hassle and would bring "new thinking". Tbh the company was always eager to bring in new talent but never wanted to provide training for existing and those that were promoted internally always got a raw deal on pay.

I think in a lot of companies the days of working up through the ranks are gone and you have to jump ship to progress.
 
Things have changed. Rarely do you get an employee sticking with one company and going up through the ranks.

Therefore companies are less inclined to invest training staff up in case they do then jump ship.
 
MonkeyMan said:
Been in a similar position and seen it with colleagues.

Could be down to them not wanting to have to train you and find a replacement for your current role when they could bring someone else straight in. Could be they just don't think you are suitable, could be someone doesn't like you, could be etc etc.....

I heard from one of my old managers when a colleague was going for a promotion that he always preferred external candidates as they were less hassle and would bring "new thinking". Tbh the company was always eager to bring in new talent but never wanted to provide training for existing and those that were promoted internally always got a raw deal on pay.

I think in a lot of companies the days of working up through the ranks are gone and you have to jump ship to progress.
Click to expand...

This is it pretty much if you are good in your current role they have no need for you.Would look elsewhere tbh as even after expressing your concerns about lack of progress within the company they will most likely call your bluff.
 
I see this a lot - people being groomed and developed into a role, doing well in their progression towards it, encouraged by their peers and superiors to apply for positions only to be rejected for reasons that are either not really true, or if they were true, things that were fully known in advance by the hiring manager and should have eliminated the applicant at an earlier stage.

Said applicant is then left bemused following the interview result when they don't get the job.

My advice?
A) If you really like working there then take ownership of your development and present your boss with a development or action plan and ask for his support and help.

or

B) Leave. Take your skillset elsewhere to someone who is willing to give you the opportunity right now.
 
Change employer, or look like you are going to. I was offered a new job elsewhere years ago and was immediately offered more to stay. I did for a year then left anyway. Unless you have outstanding prospects where you work with a top notch pension scheme loyalty will be unlikely to ever pay you back.

To me it sounds as if they don't think you are up to the job, you either change that by developing your skills and more importantly demonstrating that at work or you are in the unenviable position of "face doesn't fit" by which you'll never get a promotion anyway. I've seen people encouraged to apply to make up the numbers, they were backed up by their boss in a very supporting way but they were never going to get it, as a rule of thumb management will never tell anyone NOT to apply for a post as that's frankly asking for trouble.
 
Transform_IT said:
I am shift worker at a lower grade of the team leader... however as the team leader is day work it would be less money by over £2k.
Click to expand...
Wait what?

So to get a 'promotion' you would have a drop in salary? Thats crazy, why would anyone even apply for that. Better to change jobs.
 
My advice would be to see how it pans out. The new candidate may be a lunatic and quit/get fired and you'll be there to step up. Too many people make quick decisions on stuff like this.
 
Can you actually lead people and be authoritative? If this is factory work you're on about then team leaders are usually middle men who take a lot of **** from above and below and if they don't see you as someone who can take the flack they'll not have you, leading people is a difficult skill anyway but in a factory full of blokes who won't change their ways and don't listen to anyone you need to have a bit about you so you don't get trampled all over.
 
Transform_IT said:
Anyway, I had my interview feedback where I found out I was unsuccessful for the reason... 'I don't have enough technical knowledge', however my competency interview was very good.

Now, after having the weekend to reflect on this... and speak to other individuals as part of my team... I don't know what it is I could have done better. I also was told that full training would be given and you wouldn't just be chucked in at the deep end. I then questioned if this was personal, as I have since found out they are going to look for more external applicants (these people would have even less technical experience than me).
Click to expand...

that doesn't really make any sense if you're already working in the team - surely going from ordinary team member to team leader is just the addition of some leadership/managerial responsibilities - if you've got the technical skills to be a part of the team at the moment then I don't see the issue - I don't necessarily believe that the team leader by default need be the most technically skilled member of the team - though they are often (or at least are one of) the most skilled simply due to people with a longer duration of service being more likely to be picked for leadership roles

it seems you've been fobbed off, if they chose someone else over you then that's perhaps less of an issue - a manager encouraging you to apply might genuinely change his mind due to an external candidate impressing him or an internal candidate from another department doing so and if the process is fair it would be entirely appropriate to pick them rather than you even though he may have initially thought you were a great fit for the role...

the problem here is that he's picked no-one - this is silly as really a candidate within the team, if there are no other candidates, shouldn't even need an interview, the direct manager should know already if they're ready for promotion, the interview just serves to formally compare them against potential competing candidates IMO. So this is a problem, he's told you to apply for it then turned you down despite there being no one else... he therefore doesn't have confidence in you - that isn't a good situation, you want to be seen as useful, ideally essential almost, in the workplace - if that perception of you isn't there despite you putting in the effort then I'd strongly consider leaving the company or moving internally to a part of the organisation not overseen by this manager
 
I see this far too often now. Im getting tired of hearing the same stories where employers tell their employees to go for a specific role then they don't get it. Disgusting. Just gets your hopes up then crushed when you don't get it.
 
My current place expects you to put vast efforts into doing interviews for promotions that are about a 95% a forgone conclusion. If you don't apply for them, they think you trying to make them look bad.

I think you make more progress changing jobs than slogging in the same company if you stop getting promotions. It seems if you fall out of favor, or indeed you're not seen as the right type for a role, its almost impossible to change that mindset in others. Go to another department, or change companies then you have a fresh start.
 
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