It’s always flattering to be offered a promotion. But actually accepting or rejecting the company’s offer is another thing. It can be challenging whichever route you take, especially if you’re on the fence about this new role. This can leave you wondering; ‘Should I take a promotion I don’t want?‘
As with most things in life, when we find ourselves at a crossroads and unsure which route we should take, consider doing a pros and cons list and weigh everything up. And luckily I have done the hard work for you. Given that I have experienced taking a promotion I didn’t actually want.
In this blog post we are going to look at all the pros of taking a promotion you don’t want. And all the cons of taking a promotion you don’t want. It’s a big decision to make and you only get one chance to make it so you want it to be right.
The Pros Of Taking A Promotion You Don't Want
1. More Opportunties Later On
Sadly it’s a fact that if you do what your bosses and managers want, rather than what you feel is right for you. You’re more likely to benefit in the long run. You will be seen as a go-getter, willing to get your hands dirty and take on anything that is asked. And although I don’t agree with this type of work environment, taking a promotion you don’t want can work in your favour. Because it can get you more opportunities in the future.
2. A Title Change & Pay Increase (Hopefully)
This alone is enough to make people take a promotion they don’t actually want. And that might be you too? Which is fine! Who doesn’t want more money? And the title will look great on your CV. Just make sure the money is worth changing jobs for.
3. New Skills & New Challenges
With any promotion comes new skills you’ll need to learn and new responsibilities to take one. Again, this is great for your CV and it’s important as adults to keep challenging ourselves. This might be the first time you will manage a team or take on new work you’ve never done before. It can be scary but also exciting!
4. As Leverage For The Promotion You Actually Want
You can use this opportunity as a negotiating tactic. If the company are in a position where they desperately need this job filled, this is a great moment for you. Let them know you’re willing to take it for a maximum amount of time but then you want to move into a position that you actually want. You help them, they help you.
5. You Might Discover Something Amazing
Taking a promotion you didn’t think you wanted and discovering a love for a job you didn’t think you were going to is a HUGE bonus. And a very exciting prospect. If there’s a potential you could love this new role and have a complete change of career, it could be worth taking the promotion.
The Cons Of Taking A Promotion You Don't Want
1. The Toll On Your Mental Health
I speak from experience here. Having taken a promotion that I didn’t want, it made me miserable and I ended up handing in my noticed within a very short space of time. I never should have taken that role but I felt pressured by my manager. 40 hours a week is a long time to spend on a job you’re not happy in.
Apparently it’s not just our mental health that suffers, according to WebMd, stress brought on by the workplace can also affect our physical health too. Resulting in serious medical conditions such as Hypertensions, Diabetes and heart conditions.
2. The Toll On Your Home-life
It’s almost impossible to separate work and home-life. Which means if you’re not happy in your new promotion, you will be carrying that feeling home with you. Feeling dread on a Sunday night. Wishing your weekdays away. No one wants that. It can affect your relationships as you become more stressed and irritable. Your work-life balance needs to be a healthy one and that includes not bringing your work feelings home with you.
3. Catch 22
If your manager has a plan for their team, they may really want you to take this promotion, purely because it suits them. By not taking the promotion it can mess with their whole structure and future organisation. It shouldn’t be your problem but unfortunately it can be. And no one wants a p*ssed off manager. Which leaves you in a catch 22. Because if you don’t take the promotion you could annoy your manager. But then you’ll be taking a promotion you don’t actually want.
4. Lost Time
Taking a promotion you don’t want can actually hinder your efforts in getting the job you DO want. You’ll need to spend a minimum of 1 year (maybe even longer) in your new role. Why? Because management didn’t offer you the promotion to train you and then have you move positions so quickly. If you leave or move roles, they have to hire and re-train which all takes time and money on their part.
If you’re going to take a promotion that you don’t want, you have to ask yourself: Can you do the job for 1+ years and potentially delay your career path?
5. More Responsibility
With a promotion, generally comes more responsibility. If you don’t like the job you’re in, do you really want a higher level of responsibility? Do you want to be held accountable for an area of a company that doesn’t interest you? These are things you need to consider because when you take on a promotion, you generally have more people relying on you and expecting more from you.
6. 'Proving Yourself' Mentality
Any new job you take, the first 6 months are generally when you have to work the hardest and prove yourself. The same goes for a new promotion, you need to treat it like a new job. Likely putting in more time and energy,
7. Resenting The Company
This is a big problem. It’s hard to find good companies that you’re happy working for. So you may not want to rock the boat. By taking a promotion you don’t want you could end up resenting the company and leaving earlier than you had planned.
3 Steps To Help You Decide If You Should Take A Promotion You Don't Want
- Once you have gone through this pros and cons list and weighed everything up, you should have a better idea of which path is right for you. But don’t stop there.
- Next, you should ask close friends and family for their opinion. They are the ones that live with you and understand you. If you are still on the fence they might be able to help you picture your life either way or bring to light why the promotion is a good idea/bad idea.
- Finally, thoroughly research the role you are being offered. You cannot make a decision about a promotion without knowing all the facts. And if you are comfortable, you talk to your manager about it and ask them questions. Let them know why you are on the fence. If they are a good manager they will actually help aid in your decision in a way that is right for you.
This post will help answer your burning question ‘Should I take a promotion I don’t want’? By weighing up the pros and cons, seeking advice from family and friends and researching your potential new job, you should get the answer you’re looking for. Good luck!
Amber
Perhaps you don’t want to stay in your current role, but also don’t want to take this new promotion. If that’s the case read our post: 5 Signs It’s Time To Start Looking For A New Job.