On the one hand, it’s possible that hiring this outside candidate was indeed based on personal connections and with total disregard for your performance. If this is how promotions work at your company, and if this does not work for you, perhaps it’s time to consider other options. However, it’s also possible that the person who was hired possesses knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience that trump yours. As a result, the first step is to learn more about this person’s actual qualifications.
If you find that you were in fact more qualified, you should let your supervisor know that you were truly interested in this position, and you believe that your experience and training qualified you for it. His response is likely to give you some insight as to what the future may hold for you at this company.
As part of this discussion, you should also ask your supervisor about the specific actions that you should take in order to qualify for the next open managerial position. This would be followed by engaging in the precise behaviors that your supervisor suggests, subtly putting him in a position in which rejecting you for promotion is tantamount to rejecting himself. As a side note, make sure your supervisor clearly understands your successes, since a little self promotion can help you get yourself promoted.
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