First Time Manager's Favoritism

by Mary
(Austin TX)

I came to this company with 12 years experience and a college degree. I am told by my manager that in order to move up to a senior role I must lead a project. The last 20 years of life did not count for anything. The problem is he is the one who assigns the projects. He assigns them to the two others on my team. One who this is their first job in this position, and the other has never worked in this industry, and neither have a degree. I ask weekly for a project and get told that he is just not finding one for me, but these other two seem to stay busy. Fast forward 1 year and he makes each of them senior, but not me because I still have not been given the opportunity to lead a project.

He also has been "running out of time" in our meetings so I am not able to review with the team what I am working on. I have even ask to go first, everyone laughs, but I still do not get to speak. This has been going on for at least 7 months. The other team members have been requesting to forgo their turn so I can speak. There are only 4 of us, so it should not be a problem unless you do not know how to direct a meeting...

Response from Carl: Thanks Mary and sorry about your predicament. I've also seen cases where people take new positions and immediately find themselves having to fight an uphill battle to prove what they can do. Short of asking your manager why you're not getting the projects to work on, I'm not sure what else to suggest at this point. Does he think you are missing certain skills and/or traits? If so, I'd get this clarified.

Carl