Passed Over for Promotion: What to Do Next
by Feras Asakrieh
Jul 06, 2026
| Career ยท Promotions | ||||||
| By Feras Asakrieh ยท 5 min read ยท Issue #29 | ||||||
| You were declined for a promotion you wanted so badly. Now what? I know how you feel because I've been in your shoes a few times in my career, and it sucked. | ||||||
| Promotion has never been a fair game all the time, in my opinion. Sometimes, the wrong people get promoted over those who should. What's interesting is that every time I was declined for a promotion, there was always one thing I needed to know or learn, if I was just being honest with myself. | ||||||
| Step 1: Face It | ||||||
| Often enough, we know exactly why we didn't get it. We know how poorly we did in the interview, and often enough, the interview was the reason. If the interview was the reason, figure out what you did wrong. | ||||||
| Step 2: Don't Guess. Ask for Feedback | ||||||
| This is the step most people skip, and it drives me crazy. If you feel you nailed the interview, ask for feedback on how you did. Ask specific questions, not only about yourself but also about the folks who got promoted. Questions to consider: what did the folks who received the promotion have that I don't? Where can I focus my energy to help me be considered for future roles? | ||||||
| Step 3: Don't Cry to Anyone in the Office | ||||||
| Don't play the victim and start running around the office complaining that you didn't get the job. Your reaction and how you handle yourself after a promotion decline will play a huge role in future promotions. Your leadership will watch you more closely than you think. | ||||||
| Step 4: Is There Feedback Behind the Feedback? | ||||||
| This is the most dangerous situation: if you were declined for promotion and no one is giving you solid or clear feedback. Sometimes your company won't give you real feedback because it lacks the courage to do so. In this situation, you need to start planning your exit strategy. | ||||||
| At the end of the day, we are responsible for our careers. We need to do a true assessment after setbacks and understand what went wrong so we can take the right actions. | ||||||
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