Anonymous discussion · Need to talk
The colleague who got the promotion asked me tonight to review her presentation for tomorrow’s client meeting
The colleague who got the promotion asked me tonight to review her presentation for tomorrow’s client meeting. I am sitting with the deck open and my resume open beside it, and I cannot decide how petty I am allowed to be. She is not a bad person. Actually she is capable and I like her. She did not make the promotion decision. But every time she asks “can you quickly check this” I feel angry because I know I can fix it properly in less time than explaining what is wrong. And then I think if I help perfectly again, people will remember only that I am dependable, not that I was already doing work at this level. This has been building for about a year. I stayed after an outside opportunity because my manager said the next cycle would be different. Then when I asked about the promotion, he said the panel chose someone with more visibility. I asked if my work was not at the expected level and he said not exactly. No clear gap, no date, nothing. Just continue doing the higher-level work. My husband asked if I actually want a new job or only want them to notice me here. I said both and then got irritated because he is probably right. I have a home loan, so resigning dramatically is not an option. Also the next appraisal is almost a year away. I can start looking quietly, but I still have to work normally in the meantime. I feel guilty even considering giving only basic comments. The presentation affects the team, not just her. But there is also a horrible part of me that wants her to struggle once so management notices who has been supporting this work. I don’t like admitting that. What would you do? Help normally and start applying outside, or ask the manager directly for a firm promotion plan before doing anything else? Has anyone been passed over and stayed without becoming permanently “reliable but not promotable”?