Get advice on how to deal with jerks at work Check out the book 'Jerks At Work' and other titles by Ken Lloyd Ph.D. Return to the JerksAtWork.com homepage Learn more about Ken Lloyd, Ph.D. Submit a question to Ken Lloyd, Ph.D.
 

You asked, Ken answers ...

This item is filed under these categories:
Decision Making Promotions New Hires Anger

My manager just informed me that he hired a new person over our department. I thought I was in line for this position, but it’s clear that I have been bypassed. I am furious and ready to quit. Any suggestions?



The first suggestion is to avoid taking actions that permanently impact your earnings or career when you are furious. This applies doubly during uncertain economic times.

You need a cooling-off period to process what has happened. Let a few weeks go by, check out your new manager and see how you feel about working under this individual. You have plenty of time to figure out what to do, and you have plenty of options as well.

During this period, you should meet with your previous manager to see if you can learn more about the rationale behind bringing in a new manager. Perhaps there are training or performance issues that blocked your advancement. Try to find out the kinds of specific steps that he or she would like you to take in order to be considered for the next promotion, and then take them.

It should not take long for you to determine if you can work productively and comfortably with your new manager. If he or she is an excellent manager, this could be an excellent opportunity for you to learn, build your skills, and set the stage for advancement, whether at this company or elsewhere. At the same time, if your new manager is nothing special, you should start looking for a situation that is special, whether through a transfer or a job change.



Comment on this item

Your name (optional)
If you leave this blank, we'll list you as "Website visitor"


Your comments
Please keep your comments focused on the topic. Thanks!