Synopsis

A hardworking employee shared online that they felt very sad after not getting a promotion even after strong performance and extra training. The company chose another worker and hired someone from outside. This made the employee feel tired and unsure about their future there. Many people online advised them to explore new job options and understand their true career value.

A Reddit user said they will complete one year at their company in March, and during this time they worked very hard and did more than expected. The user said their regional director even privately asked how they started performing so quickly, showing strong recognition from senior leadership. They also said they achieved the highest KPI performance globally across all company offices, which proves they were a top performer.

The user shared that their manager regularly praised them and called them one of the best employees at the workplace. According to the post, the user was encouraged by their manager and colleagues to join a 2-month training program meant to prepare employees for a higher position. The user said this training was unpaid and had to be done outside working hours, making it more difficult and time-consuming.

Training and promotion hope

They also explained that last year everyone who completed this training got promoted, which raised their expectations. This year, the user said only two employees joined the training — themselves and one other worker. Both employees successfully completed the training and passed the interview assessment, according to the user. However, the user said the other employee received the promotion, which they accepted because that person had more experience and longer tenure.

The user then revealed that another open position was instead given to an external candidate, which made them feel disappointed. According to the user, their manager said there was no negative feedback about their performance and the decision was only due to logistics. The manager also told them they would be considered if another position opens in the future, as shared in the post. The user said global managers only had positive things to say about them, and they were very active inside the company.

Despite this, the user admitted they now feel very discouraged, exhausted, and burnt out after working so hard for the promotion. They also said they are not sure if they can trust their manager about future opportunities anymore. The user ended the post by asking the Reddit community for advice on whether they should stay or look for a new job.

What Reddit users advised

One commenter advised the user to first secure a new job offer and then use it as leverage for a promotion or raise. Another user suggested simply taking a new job offer, saying it would likely give a bigger salary increase than waiting. A commenter warned that if a promotion only happens after getting another offer, it means the company never planned to promote the employee earlier.One user strongly advised not to use leverage, saying it can lead to problems like heavy workloads, unrealistic expectations, or performance pressure.

Another commenter agreed and said the user should accept a new job and move forward instead of waiting. A person in a similar situation shared that office politics can make it risky to depend on internal promotions. One detailed suggestion was to have a direct talk with the manager about promotion timelines and expectations, while quietly exploring outside job options. The same commenter said checking the job market helps employees understand their true value and reduces dependence on internal decisions.

FAQs

Q1. Why was the employee not promoted despite good performance?

The manager said there was no negative feedback and the decision happened due to company logistics and limited positions.

Q2. What did Reddit users suggest to the employee?

Most people advised looking for a new job offer first or exploring outside options to know their real value.

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