Why might employees be rejected for an internal promotion?

When apply for an internal promotion and someone else earns the position, it’s important to remember that getting rejected for an internal position happens for a variety of reasons.Not getting another job in your company isn’t necessarily a reflection of your value or growth potential in your role. It simply means that company leaders don’t feel that the timing and exact position are the best option for you. Here are several common reasons that managers choose not to select employees for internal promotions:

• You need more experience: Even if you have the skills for an internal promotion, managers may want you to gain more experience before they promote you. This is especially true if they selected someone on your team who has seniority.
• They have another position planned for you: Sometimes, you apply for a promotion but your managers think you’re a better fit for a different position. They may choose someone else for that specific opportunity because they have a better option available for you soon.
• The timing isn’t ideal: Part of getting the job you want, whether at another business or within your own company, is luck and timing. If you’re in the middle of a big project but they want to fill the promotion right away, the timing may not be right for you to advance.
• You’re too valuable in your role: Employers may think you’re so successful in your current position that they don’t want to replace you if they promote you. In these situations, it’s important to advocate for your growth and emphasize your ability to train others to learn your duties.

How to stay motivated after getting rejected for an internal promotion

Once you hear that your employer chose someone else for an internal promotion, use these steps to maintain your happiness and motivation at work despite any disappointment:

1. Express your frustration outside of work

Before you can focus on being motivated in your role, give yourself time to process the emotions you have about not getting the promotion. Rejection can be frustrating, especially for an internal promotion, because you want your employer to value your skills and reward your contributions.Find a time outside of work hours to express your disappointment, confusion and other emotions. Talking to a trusted friend about your experience or journaling your thoughts are both good strategies for releasing your emotions in a healthy way.

2. Write a thank-you note

Writing a thank-you note to the hiring manager for the promotion can be a good way to gain perspective about the decision and start moving past the rejection. Hiring managers understand that not getting a promotion is difficult, so sending a note shows humility, grace and commitment to the company. It demonstrates that you care more about your overall career development and relationships within the business than one single opportunity.In the note, mention your appreciation for the opportunity and what you learned from the process of applying and interviewing. This can help you adjust your mindset from being disappointed to appreciating the opportunity. It can also help you start getting excited about future opportunities for your career.

3. Seek feedback about your application

Learning about what you can do better for your next application can give you clear goals and objectives to establish during your workday. Ask human resources, your manager or the interviewer for the position if they have any feedback about your performance and application. Seek feedback about what you’re doing well and how you can improve to achieve other promotions when they become available.

4. Inquire about other opportunities

Explain to the leadership team that although this opportunity wasn’t the best match for your skills, you’re still interested in growing within the company. Regularly ask about other promotions and tell your manager that you want to be considered when leadership roles become available.Expressing your desire for growth can identify you as a top candidate for future opportunities. You can also use this conversation to strategize with your manager about what types of professional development, experience, education and skills to acquire to increase your chances of success when applying for other roles.

5. Reconsider your goals

Reflect on why you wanted that specific promotion as a way to evaluate your current goals and make adjustments as necessary. Think about what the promotion offers that you don’t have in your current role, what changes you want to experience, and how the promotion can help you achieve long-term goals. Identifying why you wanted that specific promotion can provide you with guidance on other ways to achieve those outcomes without working in that role.

6. Set an ideal timeline

It’s important to understand when you have other growth opportunities at a company and when it’s time to look for chances to advance at another business. Establish a timeline for when you want to expand your role, gain more responsibilities, get a raise or earn another promotion.Set personal boundaries and decide to start exploring other opportunities if your employers aren’t providing you with the level of career success you want to achieve. Having a deadline can inspire you to work hard and take accountability for your growth during that period.

7. Invest in your skills

Plan on ways to improve your skills by taking classes, reading articles or completing practice projects. Scheduling something to do each week can motivate you and give you something to look forward to during the workday.Having structured time to work on your skills can also help you feel like you’re being proactive about enhancing your application and becoming a more competitive application for the next time you apply for a promotion.

8. Publicize your success

Give yourself praise and celebrate your success regularly. Getting rejected for a promotion can cause doubt about your skills, so it’s important to remind yourself of your abilities and accomplishments.Whenever you achieve something in the workplace, talk to your colleagues about how you’re proud of your work. Sharing the strategies you used and discussing how you overcame challenges can help improve your confidence and show others that you have a growth mindset at work.