This is a long one, but I appreciate anyone taking the time to read it to get it off my chest. I work in Guest Services (GS) at a non-profit that prides itself on internal hiring and professional growth. However, the past four job openings have all been filled externally even though they all were applied for by Guest Services team members. Three of these job openings were in different departments, so it could be argued that GS employees did not have the skills for them. However, the latest opening was for a Guest Services Manager.
I started here a year and a half ago as a seasonal worker, then brought onto part-time staff, and a year ago I was made an Assistant Manager. In my time being here, I have seen 4 Assistant Managers promoted to Manager. Not only did I believe that I would be promoted, but all of my GS team and even people in other departments were convinced it was in the bag. When I applied for the position, I was assured by HR that they preferred to hire internally. I had seen how shitty the Managers were treated by the Directors, but I didn’t mind. My team had become a home to me. I absolutely loved everyone I worked with on the day-to-day basis, minus the asshole Directors. They rarely come out of their office anyways unless they have the sudden urge to micromanage.
When it came to the hiring process, my Directors were radio silent. Usually they would ask for input from the other GS Managers, but none of them were looped in. The Managers were not even told that the Directors were interviewing people. They were interviewing completely in secret.
About a week after my interview, one of my Directors pulled me into the office and told me they were hiring outside of the company because the new hire is “more experienced” and she wants more time to “develop me.” I immediately put in my two weeks. It has caused a rift in the company. So many people from all different departments were shocked that I was passed up. Multiple people cried when I told them I was leaving. We all work 40 hours a week, and see each other more than we see our own families. Me leaving has legitimately changed the atmosphere of the whole place. The only people who don’t feel that way are my Directors, who couldn’t care less that I’m leaving. One actually went away on a 3 week vacation, and didn’t bother giving me a “goodbye” or “thanks for all the hard work” before he left. Not even an email.
Everyone is in agreement – the decision was not practical, it was political. The directors wanted someone they could mold and use as a puppet. It wasn’t that I didn’t have enough experience; I had TOO MUCH experience with how this place runs, and the Directors wanted someone more gullible.
I didn’t have a back up plan when I put my two weeks in, but I’m fortunate enough to be in the position that I can take some time off to look for something new. The last thing I want is to get wrapped up in another company’s corporate drama just to be stabbed in the back again. No matter how nice and inclusive your company claims to be…your hard work and dedication will almost never be recognized.