A higher salary, a better title, greater recognition and taking on more responsibility – these are the accomplishments that most people in the workforce strive to achieve.
Many would consider working in a job without any prospects of climbing the so-called ladder grim, and we can begin to become unmotivated when our planned career trajectory falls off course.
So when your ambitious nature brings that big promotion, you’re going to jump at the opportunity, right? Maybe not. There are certain times turning down a promotion can result in much more career success and satisfaction in the long term. You might want to consider doing this when:
- You love what you do. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? This is truly the case if you’re working in a role that fulfills you and your career objectives. You might currently have a great work/life balance, be inspired by your day-to-day tasks, have an exceptionally supportive team, or enjoy succeeding at what you do - the fact that you’ve been offered a promotion is likely testament to this latter fact. While it’s easy to get carried away with the higher status and salary, gambling on being in a good place is a risk you may not be willing to take.
- It’s too much responsibility. Let’s be realistic about promotions: with more money often comes more demanding work, more stress, more hours at work, and less time to nurture other important parts of your life. If you have other priorities and feel that the promotion may not be the most suitable reward for your success at work, make a counter-offer. Show your manager gratitude for the opportunity and instead ask if you can be remunerated in other ways such as being given time off to pursue a degree or more time to work independently versus managing a team.
- It’s a less lucrative offer. When weighing up the offer, have a thorough look at the whole compensation package. A contractor becoming a full-time employee may take an obvious pay-cut but find the paid holiday, sick leave and job security worth it. On the other hand, your promotion’s overall salary might look like a huge increase but falls short on the overtime pay that you’re currently receiving. Spend some time doing the sums and finding out what’s more lucrative – literally and metaphorically – in the long term.
- There’s a high chance of failing. If you’re asked to fill a position that’s had a high turnover of people, or it’s a new role that’s still being established, you might want to discuss any concerns in detail with your manager before accepting. You’ll need to be certain that the role is well defined, your objectives are clear, and success is a possibility. You don’t want to become a staff member to have given up a relatively good thing, only to lose your new job because the nature of the position set you up to fail.
- It’s not on your career path. If you’re an ambitious type who is forging a particular future for yourself, you’ll know that every career decision you make will affect your journey to the final destination. Often, businesses find it easier and cheaper to move employees internally when they need to fill a position, and may sell a role to you as a great opportunity while you may feel otherwise. Make sure any promotion you accept acts as a good stepping-stone to where you want to be in the future. It should provide room for professional and personal growth – not only financial.
Make sure any promotion you accept acts as a good stepping-stone to where you want to be in the future.
