Can my manager stop internal promotion?

[VISE]

Basically, my team has recently lost 3 people out of 14, so granted we are short numbered and struggling a little. But new starters are coming and will be trained before being moved over.

I've been informally offered a job that I've wanted and let it known that I wanted this job since I started. Not to say I haven't tried in this job, just that was the path I always wanted to follow.

I've spoken to my manager today who told me if I do go it won't be for a while which I said I'm fine with starting in new year so they can hire someone or two to take my role and someone else's. I think he thinks I'm willing to wait for a natural promotion, which I'm not if the job has been offered to me.

Any idea where I go from here? I'm still going to apply formally and go from there, but can my manager just block this completely? I don't want to fall out with anyone as I'm not unhappy now, I just I see the new job as my ideal career.

[elanfan]

Not saying that he is morally correct to do so but whether he can or not will depend on your organisation and who has the ear of the next line of management up from him and your potential new manager. In short office politics. If your new role needs you badly and is seen as more important senior management will side with them. If your old manager bleats about being short staffed, having a backlog and staff in course of training he might keep you for a while.

If you have to accept not moving for a month or two get it in writing that the job is yours with a start date of xxxx

[VISE]

elanfan said:

Not saying that he is morally correct to do so but whether he can or not will depend on your organisation and who has the ear of the next line of management up from him and your potential new manager. In short office politics. If your new role needs you badly and is seen as more important senior management will side with them. If your old manager bleats about being short staffed, having a backlog and staff in course of training he might keep you for a while.

If you have to accept not moving for a month or two get it in writing that the job is yours with a start date of xxxx

I'm more than willing to wait until someone can take my space, providing the job is given to me and is waited on. The other team is a lot more understaffed than this team and have been for around a year or so.

[anonymous-user]

Speak to the other manager, formalise the offer, then bring both managers together to agree to a mutual start date.

That way you get your job and your current manager stays happy as you can train someone to replace you.

[NRS]

VISE said:

elanfan said:

Not saying that he is morally correct to do so but whether he can or not will depend on your organisation and who has the ear of the next line of management up from him and your potential new manager. In short office politics. If your new role needs you badly and is seen as more important senior management will side with them. If your old manager bleats about being short staffed, having a backlog and staff in course of training he might keep you for a while.

If you have to accept not moving for a month or two get it in writing that the job is yours with a start date of xxxx

I'm more than willing to wait until someone can take my space, providing the job is given to me and is waited on. The other team is a lot more understaffed than this team and have been for around a year or so.

The thing is the company is not there to "help you" - it will just do it if it helps them in the long term or it doesn't cost them anything/much. So they would be unlikely to turn down candidates just to give you a job you want if they think they will be as good/better. However it may well be best for the company and so they could move you. As mentioned above it would then depend on office politics as to who needs you the most (also based on which department is most important to the company as well as the manning situation), if you are suitable for it, and also which manager is "stronger" in terms of fighting - sometimes it might be someone just gives up if they know the other person will be extremely difficult.