Has anyone here successfully achieved a promotion at work? If so, how did you achieve it - eg, did it take a long time?
I'd also like to hear from people who have been passed over for promotion at work. What were your feelings about it, and where did you go from there?
Earlier this month I had a big upset where I was told that I am not going to be promoted at the moment (I spoke about it in the AFF chatroom on the evening after I heard the news). Even though my immediate managers think I am good enough to be working at the next level, my promotion was vetoed by someone in the senior leadership of the department who doesn't even know any the frontline staff personally. My managers were annoyed about it, but sadly there's not a lot they can do.
I was devastated about it, but since then I have started working on a different project in a different team, and I am hoping it will be easier to progress here.
Do you think it is much harder for people with AS to gain promotion at work?
I feel the fact that we're Aspies doesn't mean we're not allowed to have careers like so called "normal" people.
I reckon Bill Gates recieved one hell of a career promotion
Ian
It's hard to get a promotion without good social skills.
Sheer skill can get you promoted despite your poor social skills.
Most promotions involve having to lead other people--which requires social skills.
Aspies are pretty much screwed either way...
I feel the fact that we're Aspies doesn't mean we're not allowed to have careers like so called "normal" people.
In theory, that is correct, but in practice, it is much harder. Due to my poor social skills, I feel that I have to work harder than the rest of my co-workers to get the same level of recognition.
I don't want to be promoted to manager level (not at the moment anyway!), I only want to be promoted to the level immediately above mine, which would mean I would be involved in slightly more challenging projects and I would have a chance to continue to develop my skills.
Even though everyone seems nice, at the moment I feel like a bit of a misfit, since there is hardly anyone in the department who is at the same level as me (I'm at the level just above entry-level). All the others are more senior, and I'm also the youngest person. Also, most of them seem to come from moderately-wealthy family backgrounds. They all live independently from their parents in their own homes, and as the house prices are so high in this area, their parents must have helped them buy their houses. That all makes it even harder for me to relate to my co-workers, as their lifestyles are so alien to mine.
However, I am more qualified than a lot of them, and that is why it's hard for me to understand why they are more senior than me. The only difference is that they have better social skills and are older with more experience.
It's unfortunate that where I work, it seems that experience is valued more highly than education.
Well i'll be damned if i'm gonna let AS ruin my chances, its just not worth it >3
Ian
I reckon Bill Gates recieved one hell of a career promotion
Actually, since he co-founded the company he's always been at the top...from what position would he be promoted from?
Speaking as one who has tried, I don't think Aspies make very good managers with direct reports. The social skills problems are too numerous and get too pronounced when the pressure mounts up.
The thing is, though, too many people think you have to acquire directs in order to advance. Nothing could be further from the truth (if you are in the right company.) Managerial responsibilities over an org are not the only ways to advance. One can easily climb the corporate ladder and still remain an individual contributor, have awesome impact and responsibilites, and make an abosolute fortune.
It took 10 years for me to get promoted from base level clerk to the next level. I have been sitting on the next level for 13 years and don't expect to advance from there unless there is some kind of major miracle.
Management isn't my aim but it would be nice to be able to specialise a bit more. However, as I work in a branch office and most of the best positions are concentrated in head office, it isn't likely unless I am prepared to move (which I am not)
I don't apply for promotions now as the selection process is quite ludicrous but I think management is finally learning from some of the fiascoes in the recent past.
A fellow aspie told me that people at work thought I was not bright because I talked "a bit weirdly". I asked "how do you mean?". He said I talk very slowly and with a fairly flat intonation. Then I said, "well, I use big words, doesn't that count for something". He then said, "well you don't dress the part either and don't take care of your appearance".
This isn't really true but then I'm not into corporate wear. He wears a shirt and tie and good trousers and has applied for so many promotions. I find people who are competent but without good people skills tend not to get far unless they have friends in higher places.
This happens from time to time and the others who applied honestly are without exception, very po'd.
Has anyone here successfully achieved a promotion at work? If so, how did you achieve it - eg, did it take a long time?
I'd also like to hear from people who have been passed over for promotion at work. What were your feelings about it, and where did you go from there?
Earlier this month I had a big upset where I was told that I am not going to be promoted at the moment (I spoke about it in the AFF chatroom on the evening after I heard the news). Even though my immediate managers think I am good enough to be working at the next level, my promotion was vetoed by someone in the senior leadership of the department who doesn't even know any the frontline staff personally. My managers were annoyed about it, but sadly there's not a lot they can do.
I was devastated about it, but since then I have started working on a different project in a different team, and I am hoping it will be easier to progress here.
Do you think it is much harder for people with AS to gain promotion at work?
It can be more difficult to get a promotion depending on the job... social constructs are important, sometimes it is better to be well liked than competent at a job...
Has anyone here successfully achieved a promotion at work? If so, how did you achieve it - eg, did it take a long time?
I'd also like to hear from people who have been passed over for promotion at work. What were your feelings about it, and where did you go from there?
Earlier this month I had a big upset where I was told that I am not going to be promoted at the moment (I spoke about it in the AFF chatroom on the evening after I heard the news). Even though my immediate managers think I am good enough to be working at the next level, my promotion was vetoed by someone in the senior leadership of the department who doesn't even know any the frontline staff personally. My managers were annoyed about it, but sadly there's not a lot they can do.
I was devastated about it, but since then I have started working on a different project in a different team, and I am hoping it will be easier to progress here.
Do you think it is much harder for people with AS to gain promotion at work?
You certainly can get promoted. I've been promoted 3 times in around 7 years. I've gone from engineer, senior engineer, project leader and my current job title is "buisness management specialist" which is where I implement new and improve current buisness processes. I doubt I would ever go for a role where I would be a people manager but I am responsible for coordinating the work of others, what they need to do, but they don't directly report to me.
If you have issues communicating and social interaction as many of us do then people management probably isn't going to be for you but there is always the more technical route which I am progressing through at the moment.
If you put the work in promotion is certainly possible.
Some people get promotions at work because they are "known" around the departments. It is not due to exceptional talent or hard work or long hours.
How to get known around work. Volunteer for some charity fund raising event or organize one. That will get you known around work. That seems to be the most common way that people get known around work other than the social butterflies.
Yes, that sounds like a good plan. It also shows that you have networking skills and planning skills.