Categories
Antiwork

Do not let someone else’s priorities stop you from moving forward

This was years ago. I had gone to my manager asking what it would take for me to get a raise/promotion at a small software company. I had been there for a year and a half in marketing as a senior graphic designer and had already increased the tasks and responsibilities from my initial job description to include more skills for a web marketing manager role. His response was that he actually didn't see my role becoming more advanced. If anything, he felt my role was going to be more simplified as the team expanded. I had stellar performance feedback from everyone I worked with, so it took me by surprise. They ended up hiring a video guy who only had 6 months of hobbyist experience, and the dude felt like he could do my job with his eyes closed. No offense to videographers; while certain parts of videography and…


This was years ago. I had gone to my manager asking what it would take for me to get a raise/promotion at a small software company. I had been there for a year and a half in marketing as a senior graphic designer and had already increased the tasks and responsibilities from my initial job description to include more skills for a web marketing manager role. His response was that he actually didn't see my role becoming more advanced. If anything, he felt my role was going to be more simplified as the team expanded. I had stellar performance feedback from everyone I worked with, so it took me by surprise. They ended up hiring a video guy who only had 6 months of hobbyist experience, and the dude felt like he could do my job with his eyes closed. No offense to videographers; while certain parts of videography and graphic design overlap, they are 2 different specializations. Let alone the skill gap of a Jr level videographer vs a Sr level graphic designer.

Unfortunately, in my manager's eyes, the sun shined out of the newbie's butt. I took it as a sign for me to leave. In fact, I tried to apply for another position in an adjacent field (UX design) within the company. I knew the guy in charge of the UX team and had spent a couple of months networking with him to get a better understanding of the role and their team's dynamics. My manager actually went out of his way to let them know that he didn't think I would be a good fit when I knew that was NOT the case. It really showed me that for all of my manager's “kumbaya we support each other” spiel, he was really trying to pigeon hold me. I left 2 months after this incident. Cue surprised Pikachu face

In less than 2 years of leaving that role, I found a position where I now lead a UX team and make double my old salary with a way better work-life balance. All my skills from being a senior graphic designer transitioned well just like I suspected. I even heard from a former coworker of mine shortly after I left that my old manager said that he regretted letting me go to the newbie videographer's face when the dude tried to take over my responsibilities. In his word, I was the best. Newbie's work wasn't cutting it.

If your manager's priorities do not align with your goals, do not let them stop you!!! Do not let them devalue your time and effort because they want to keep you where you are for their convenience!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *