Why Your Less Experienced Coworker Got Promoted Over You
by Feras Asakrieh
Jul 05, 2026
| Career ยท Promotions | ||||||
| By Feras Asakrieh ยท 4 min read ยท Issue #30 | ||||||
| We've all been there, seeing inexperienced colleagues get promoted while we're left wondering why. Is it an unfair game, or is there something we're not seeing? | ||||||
| I used to think it was unfair and that the company culture was flawed until I realized I had the wrong idea about promotions. Most of us believe that promotion is the result of long hours, hard work, and becoming experts at what we do. But unfortunately, that's not how it works. | ||||||
| Reason 1: They Focus on the Right Results | ||||||
| They find out what their executives focus on and do just that, while others on the team focus only on expected results. Doing the job really well is not enough to get noticed and win the leadership's heart. You need to dig into what is truly wanted and focus on that. Nothing is better than making your boss and their bosses look great. | ||||||
| Reason 2: They Build the Right Perception and Branding | ||||||
| Their actions, how they tell their stories, and how they present themselves in meetings and projects all contribute to the right perception and branding. They build a brand that goes beyond just doing the job. They consistently communicate their wins and accomplishments to reinforce the perception they are building. | ||||||
| Reason 3: They Communicate with Confidence | ||||||
| They are the ones who can articulate, describe, and tell stories with confidence. Leadership likes individuals who can speak with confidence. If I had to pick one thing that will help you advance your career, it would be this. | ||||||
| At the end of the day, what gets you promoted is not just excelling at your current job but demonstrating what you can do if given the opportunity. It's all about how you carry yourself, what your personal brand says about you, and whether you can speak with confidence. Nail these three things, and see how fast people tap you on the shoulder. | ||||||
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