Is it even worth it to pitch a new, promoted position for myself internally when I already feel so burnt out and lied to by my current company about growth? Or should all my energy be put into external jobs?
Anonymous
Is it even worth it to pitch a new, promoted position for myself internally when I already feel so burnt out and lied to by my current company about growth? Or should all my energy be put into external jobs?
I’ve been dealing with a very stressful work situation that I’d appreciate some advice on, especially if anyone has ever been in a similar situation. It just feels like such a mess …
So, my current job for the past 2.5 years is that I lead the marketing strategy for a division of a much larger company. I have a lot of autonomy, fully make leadership decisions in lockstep with the sales team I partner with, etc. I’m essentially acting as a CMO for a specific product/platform within a larger company without, you know, the title, respect, or salary of a CMO.
I’ve been actively advocating for myself to be promoted to at least the Director level (the next level from what I am now).
Toward the end of 2023, I asked my direct boss (I’ll call him “Greg”) what I could do to advance. He told me I’m doing all the right things, but to immerse myself even more in client meetings to fuel my marketing strategy and partner more directly with the Sales leaders. My boss’s boss (I’ll call him “Jack”) gave me the same advice.
So, I did that. Then, last spring and summer, both Greg and Jack told me on more than one occasion that I was doing a great job growing my role and influence, that they felt confident in submitting me by the end of year review cycle, that they were advocates for me to become a Director, etc. At one point, I even explicitly asked, “While I know these things can take time at the corporate level, are you saying you will personally support me in submitting me end of year for the Director promotion?” I was told yes.
Then, toward the end of 2024, when my career growth came up, Greg suddenly acted confused as to why I thought he and Jack were submitting me. He was angry and annoyed that I been “bold” enough to send him and Jack proof points (I.e., bullets that showcased my tangible impact on revenue)—aka something they both had previously encouraged me to do in order to “help them help me” make the case for my promotion.
During that same meeting, his language around a promotion shifted to a vague “it’s just been a possibility” and that I was “never told” I’d definitely be submitted (not true). He ended up yelling and ranting at me that I “wasn’t at the director level” (despite the proof points I had to show otherwise and despite what I had been told) and that I “took too many vacation days” (not even true), adding that I took “two weeks off that past month alone” (I had taken zero days off that month, so that alone was bizarre from him …)
I’m not sure if what I’m writing is clearly reflecting this, but I genuinely left that meeting feeling scared and shaken up for how mean and intense he had been. I’m not proud of this, but I work hard and am really career-focused, and ended up crying in my apartment that night from how betrayed and confused I felt.
Meanwhile, around the same time, Jack had reaffirmed he had “zero doubts” about submitting me for the promotion.
Then, as the end of 2024 approached, I ended up having another conversation with Greg, and then Jack. Greg was kinder this time, but now more firmly said I wouldn’t be promoted end of this year, saying I “wasn’t quite at director level.” I asked if he could give me specifics as to why I’m not since I have proof points that clearly demonstrate my leadership, how my efforts tie back to revenue growth, etc … he just vaguely said “it’s just there or it’s not.” Wtf…?
Soon after, Jack told me it’s not personal, that “no one” is getting promoted right now. Then (yep, there’s even more *sigh*), a few weeks ago, I’m told that apparently my role is “capped” anyway —aka there’s, I guess, never been any chance of promotion anyway.
I feel like I’m in a fun house right now. I feel demoralized and defeated.
Presently, I am actively looking at and applying for external roles and leveraging my network as much as I can.
But there’s a final point. There’s a restructure happening at the larger company where the part of the company I do marketing for is shifting to another part of the company, which will likely lead me to having a totally new direct boss and, honestly, probably more work.
since I can’t control how quickly I’ll get an external job, I’ve thought about essentially detailing the Director-level job description I’d want and pitching it. But … with all this jerking around that’s already happened, is that even worth it? Jack and Greg both keep stressing how this restructure will open up more opportunities for my growth, but how can I trust that?
I’m doubtful if pitching a job/promotion would lead to anything more than anything dead end at this company or, worse, they take the job description I write and hire someone else for it
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