I’ve been there before, I’ve seen a new employee promoted before me even though I was much better suited for the role.
If this has happened to you, I feel for you and know what you’re going through.
Let’s not play around, it hurts the ego and it’s frustrating to see someone new walk in and move above you.
The best thing you can do is put your emotions to the side and figure out why it’s happened and what your best move is.
New Employee Promoted Before Me! 10 Reasons Why This Happens
1. They Are Great at Interviewing
How well you come across during the interview is a huge part of the process, and will often count for more than qualifications and experience.
The new employee may have simply been better at selling themselves during the interview.
This doesn’t mean they are a better fit for the job, just that they were able to impress during their interview.
If this is the case, keep this in mind for future interviews and work on your own interviewing skills.
Related – Here are signs to look for that an interview went well!
2. You’re Bad at Interviewing
Similar to the last point, the new employee might not be great at interviewing, but if you’re bad at selling yourself it may cost you the promotion.
Take this as a learning opportunity and work on improving your interview skills for future opportunities.
You never know when your next job interview will be and being prepared can make all the difference in landing the job.
Don’t be shy about seeking professional help from a performance coach if needed, being able to ace interviews is crucial if you want to reach your potential.
3. They Are More Qualified than You Are
They may be new, but if they’re more qualified than you are for the role in question it’s not that surprising that they were successful.
Take a step back and assess your own qualifications. Are you lacking certain skills or experience?
If so, make a plan to improve in those areas and focus on what you need to do to become more qualified for future promotions.
4. They Have a Better Rapport with The Decision-Makers
Despite being new, if this employee has made a big splash with the decision-makers in the organization, it’s going to work in their favor.
If you’ve seen this play a part, you should also focus on networking and building relationships with the higher-ups in your company.
You never know when these connections will come in handy, and being able to impress the decision-makers can open up more opportunities for advancement.
5. You’ve Pigeonholed Yourself Into Your Current Role
If you’ve been doing the same job for a long time, it can be hard to break out of that mold and show your potential for growth and advancement.
Take a look at your job responsibilities and see if there are any areas that you can expand upon or improve in to show your value.
It may also be that you’re the only one who can fulfill your role and management is hesitant to promote you as it’ll create a problem in replacing you.
6. Your Boss Sees You as More of A Threat
One of the most common reasons why someone is passed on for a promotion is because their manager feels threatened by them.
If your manager feels you’re more of a threat than the new employee, so may have given them the nod over you.
This is frustrating as it’s not a reflection of your suitability for the role, but it’s important to take a step back and figure out what you can do to improve the relationship with your boss.
7. The Wrong Decision Was Made
Let’s not mince our words, sometimes the wrong decision is made when awarding promotions.
It’s important to remember that it may not be a reflection on your abilities or worth as an employee if you were passed on, but rather a mistake made by the decision-makers.
Don’t let it discourage you, and instead use it as motivation to continue working hard and proving your worth for future promotions.
8. They See the New Employee as A Better Long-Term Option
Even though they’re new to the organization, it’s possible that the decision-makers see the new employee as a better long-term option for the company.
It’s hard to say why they feel this way, but this is often a huge factor when it comes to deciding on who is going to be promoted.
It’s expensive and time-consuming interviewing and recruiting employees, so the decision-makers may see potential in the new employee for future growth and advancement within the company.
9. Your Experience Didn’t Meet the Criteria as Well as Theirs Did
You’re focusing on the fact that you missed out on a promotion to someone who was newer than you to your organization, but they may have just been a better fit for the role.
Take a look at the job criteria and see if your experience and qualifications meet it as well as the new employee’s did.
If not, it’s important to make a plan to improve in those areas and become a better fit for future opportunities.
You can’t complain about someone getting a promotion who hasn’t been at the company as long as you have if they’re better suited to the role.
That’s just smart strategic decisions from your boss.
Related content:
What to do when a slacker gets promoted before you;
What to do when someone less qualified gets promoted before you;
10. It’s More About You, Not Them
I wanted to end by saying that you need to recognize that it’s more about you than it is about the new employee if you’re feeling frustrated that they got promoted ahead of you.
Are you putting in the effort to improve and advance within your organization? Are there opportunities for growth that you’re taking advantage of?
Don’t let the promotion of a new employee discourage you, use it as motivation to continue working hard and showing your worth.
You shouldn’t look at them and why they were promoted, more so you need to look at you and what more you could be doing.
Focus on your own growth and success, and the promotions will come eventually.
Remember that it’s not a competition against others, but rather a race against yourself to continually improve and progress. Good luck!
Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-business-partnership-meeting-concept-silhouette
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.