It could be your worst nightmare - putting in all that hard work to try and move up the career ladder, only to be told no. You might even have to see one of your work colleagues get the promotion instead. So what are the best ways to deal with this awkward situation?
1. Talk to someone
Try to avoid complaining about your rejection to the people you work with. Everyone needs a good moan and a bit of support sometimes. It's best to talk things through with a close friend or family member who doesn't work in the same place.
You might feel really let down and a bit upset in the workplace. You might also start to feel uninterested in your current job. This is all normal, but you can’t let it show. The best thing you can do is carry on as normal and show everyone around you how professional and mature you are.
It's useful to find out where you went wrong and how you might improve. Sometimes it can be hard to hear these things, but you can use it to your advantage if you try for a promotion again in the future. It's a good idea to have a meeting with your manager where you can both go through the details in private and you can make notes.
After finding out why you didn't get a promotion, what steps can you take to improve for next time? If you were lacking experience maybe you just need to wait another year or two before you try again, or you could do some work experience or volunteer work on the side.
5. Get the training
Lots of employers are happy to send their employees on training courses that will help them to gain new skills. If your employers don't do this, then you might want to think about learning from home or taking an evening class. If you've got extra training, you can prove to your manager that you're serious about doing new things and moving up the career ladder. To find out more about how a qualification might help you gain a promotion, visit our Qualifications that could help page.
Maybe you've got to the highest point you can get to in your current job. If you feel this way, it could be time to get a new job - either at a different company or perhaps you could even consider a change of career.
If you feel like point number 4 really relates to you, then you can use our job search to help you on your way. Or have a look at the tips and advice we have around job hunting or changing your career.
