6 Signs It’s Not Your Fault You Didn’t Get The Promotion — It's Your Manager's

In theory, the path to landing a promotion seems straightforward: if you work really hard and you’re great at your job, you should be ready to take it to the next level. Yet getting a promotion often isn’t all that simple. Work ethic and results are crucial, yes, but they’re not the only things that matter when deciding whether an employee should be promoted or not. Promotions don’t just come when an employee works hard; they also come when there’s a manager who advocates and fights for an employee’s best interests.

If you’re going above and beyond and still not seeing a new title in your future, here are some signs it may not be your fault — and that your manager’s the one to blame. 

1. They don’t offer you new opportunities.

If you’re hoping to land a promotion, you’ll need to go out of your way to show that you’re qualified and dedicated to helping your company succeed. Yet you can’t take advantage of every opportunity that may help you grow your career if you don’t know all of the possibilities. If you’re looking for more ways to expand your skills and take on more responsibility, your manager should not only pass along relevant opportunities, but also help you find new opportunities within the company so you can learn and grow.

2. They leave you out of important conversations.

If your manager wants you to succeed, they should make sure you’re up to date on key company conversations, especially ones that discuss strategies and goals that relate to your work. While you may not be invited into every meeting room or Zoom call, your manager should relay important company information to you to ensure you’re aligning your goals and strategies with what the company is looking for long-term. If they’re not looping you in, you might be out of luck when it comes time for promotions. 

3. They don’t challenge you.

4. They’re not curious about your career goals.

5. They don’t follow through.

6. You’ve advocated for yourself before — but it’s never led to anything.

If you’re hoping for a promotion, you’ll not only need to work hard, but also advocate on your own behalf directly to your manager. If you’ve made a case for your promotion to your manager before, you should know why you haven’t gotten that promotion yet. If your manager was vague, didn’t give you feedback or never took any next steps, chances are they’re the one getting in the way of your career level-up.