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If they can't do the job and you can't get rid of them, sometimes you promote them to get them out of where they were failing anyway and leave the people who can and do do the job well there to do it. Not 'fair', not 'right' but I know sometimes it happens.
OP never said they were in the running for the job. OP was referring to two other people at his/her workplace. Next time, read more carefully.
Sometimes you have to think as well as read. As much as it bothers the OP, it gives the impression they were the one passed over. Otherwise why would it bother them so much that someone else got the promotion. Especially when their argument is that never being late or missing a day, is their only real reason that the person that got the promotion should not have it. It sure sounds like the OP is angry for a reason and the reason in cases like this is the complainer is nearly always the one that got passed over.
OP never said they were in the running for the job. OP was referring to two other people at his/her workplace. Next time, read more carefully.
I think OldTrader is reading quite carefully- between the lines. I get that you don't agree with him a lot of the times, but in this case it definitely seems like the OP is viewing certain traits as positives and the other person's traits as negatives. We don't really know what traits are necessary for this job.
Sometimes picking things up quickly, common sense, and being on time every day aren't all the skills you need to do something. For example, in my office, a lot of new procedures don't make a lot of sense. You might "pick it up quickly" and it "seems like common sense" to a person who isn't really thinking about it. The people who are really good at their jobs and think about the task will ask a lot of questions because they want to do the task correctly.
For example, we have one woman in my office who calls in late regularly. She has elderly/frail parents for whom she is the primary caregiver. She also asks A LOT of questions about new procedures because they don't make a lot of sense most of the time. In fact, many people in my unit who are quite good ask a lot of questions because they really know their stuff and don't just take the instructions at face value as being right, because in many cases they are wrong.
One recently promoted person isn't the person you'd think would be promoted at first glance, but she actually really knows her stuff. She's not glamorous by any means. Her intonation isn't going to win any awards, but when it comes to doing her job, she's really great at it.
I think OldTrader is reading quite carefully- between the lines. I get that you don't agree with him a lot of the times, but in this case it definitely seems like the OP is viewing certain traits as positives and the other person's traits as negatives. We don't really know what traits are necessary for this job.
Sometimes picking things up quickly, common sense, and being on time every day aren't all the skills you need to do something. For example, in my office, a lot of new procedures don't make a lot of sense. You might "pick it up quickly" and it "seems like common sense" to a person who isn't really thinking about it. The people who are really good at their jobs and think about the task will ask a lot of questions because they want to do the task correctly.
For example, we have one woman in my office who calls in late regularly. She has elderly/frail parents for whom she is the primary caregiver. She also asks A LOT of questions about new procedures because they don't make a lot of sense most of the time. In fact, many people in my unit who are quite good ask a lot of questions because they really know their stuff and don't just take the instructions at face value as being right, because in many cases they are wrong.
One recently promoted person isn't the person you'd think would be promoted at first glance, but she actually really knows her stuff. She's not glamorous by any means. Her intonation isn't going to win any awards, but when it comes to doing her job, she's really great at it.
OldTrader made the same type of assumption about OP that you're accusing OP of making about the two candidates, but yet you're defending OldTrader. So let's just assume that OP is also, how did you put it? "Reading between the lines" since we're about giving certain people (we agree with) the benefit of the doubt.
Or, you know, we could all just stop making generalizations and assuming that we know everything. Because you don't. Nor does oldtrader, who constantly presumes to have a better understanding of all things on this board.
Unfortunately especially in white collar racial quota and being a female willing to put out matter more than job performance. Just one of them thing in life you have to accept. Also one thing is universal when it comes to getting ahead.... social skills matter more than job skills, or at least as much.
OldTrader made the same type of assumption about OP that you're accusing OP of making about the two candidates, but yet you're defending OldTrader. So let's just assume that OP is also, how did you put it? "Reading between the lines" since we're about giving certain people (we agree with) the benefit of the doubt.
Or, you know, we could all just stop making generalizations and assuming that we know everything. Because you don't. Nor does oldtrader, who constantly presumes to have a better understanding of all things on this board.
I've been around long enough to see this change become significant. Sure, we've always had those promoted who don't shouldn't be, but it's way more than in the past. And I don't buy the "management knows more than you do" line. Been around too long, seen too much, been in too many meetings where hiring decisions were made.
Way back when I started, many/most of my supervisors knew the job because they had done the job before promotion. Now most of the managers have never done the job and have no clue what the job entails. So they promote the person who can BS them better because they believe the BS. Example, one day another engineer and I were trying, unsuccessfully, to explain something to the clueless manager. In walks X so the manager asks him. X delivers a string of lying BS. Manager nods his head and says "see that's the way to answer a question" and leaves. X then turns to us and asks "Quick, what's the correct answer in case he ever asks me again?"
Very true.. I don't really know how people can expect to run a successful operation long term with this type of nonsense truly.
Unfortunately especially in white collar racial quota and being a female willing to put out matter more than job performance. Just one of them thing in life you have to accept. Also one thing is universal when it comes to getting ahead.... social skills matter more than job skills, or at least as much.
Racial and gender QUOTAS do not exist.
We're only getting the OP'S side of the story with limited information. For all we know, the better candidate was chosen. Why assume that what we think is always correct?
Lastly, why assume that the white, male candidate is always the better candidate?
Maybe arrangements were made for it, and just not publicly announced. I have a guy that works for me that is always punctual and enthusiastic, but I can't stand him. Another is always late because his wife works and he has trouble with his kids in the morning. He's talked to me about it, and I'm flexible because it doesn't prevent his work from getting done. I'd promote the late guy over the punctual guy 100x over.
Why 'can't you stand him?'. Is he actually better at the job, though?
This post proves the OP's point.
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