Should I go above my boss?

Question

I am waiting for the opportunity to be promoted at my job. I have been with the company for eight years and I must say that I am totally ready to be promoted. My boss has been telling me that I am set up to go to the internal interviews for sometime now but he doesnt have a date? Do you think this is BS and he is just stringing me along? He told me and another employee that the interviews will be in April or May. But I am just itching to know if he is telling the truth. Should I go above him and email his boss and see what he says about that, or would that be overstepping?

Answer 1

For now it's probably overstepping, and may turn his boss off from you. If he said April or May you will just have to wait. Only when he doesn't pan out, and he doesn't give you a good answer, would I go to someone else (maybe HR first for some basic information, not his boss). Emailing his boss might get a response like "why is X's person emailing me on this? who does this person think they are? I have bigger issues to deal with." Please keep in mind also that while you are "totally ready to be promoted" - do you really deserve to be? What have you brought to the company and to your job that has helped the company with the bottom line? And in what way have you trained, pursued further education, and grown the skills necessary for a different job? I know it is hard waiting it out, but see it from their perspective; they want to know how you can help them, not how they can help you. Keep in mind if this keeps happening likely your only recourse will be to move on to another company. Going to your boss's boss will probably not get you anywhere: he will likely have the same philosophy and string you along. But give it until May, and then have a sit down with your boss.

Answer 2

There is always a risk involved in leapfrogging one's boss. If you decide to proceed, the way to do this is something along the lines of, "John mentioned that the internal interviews for ABC job would be occurring sometime in April or early May. Do you have any more specific info on the date? I want to make sure that I'm well prepared." This way the big boss knows that you and John have spoken about the interviews and you just need a little more info than John is able to provide.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It is hard to tell from your posting all the needed details - like why 8 years before a promotion, etc.

Here is my thought - IF there is a job opening, I would provide a business Coverletter that shows you are interested in the position, and a couple brief highlights of your performance. A copy of this should go to your boss, a copy to HR and a copy to his boss.

This shows in a professional way that you are very interested in the position.

Below is a sample - which I would change the last part. I would not be so bold as it is in that letter. Keep it as a request and not as a demand.

Answer 4

If May comes and goes, THEN talk to his boss. Not now.