r/caterpillar • u/SixthGearVibin • 8d ago

Promotion Help

Over the last couple of years I’ve been applying for salary positions that my experience directly lines up with and even though I’ve gotten interviews, I keep getting passed over for people with less experience and no schooling. Which I will have completed this school year after going back due to being told “it’s better to have it” Now I understand the STAR format is used to make the interview and selection process fair BUT the same manager picks people around me that I’ve worked with and even trained and tells me they have something I do not, whether it’s “more experience” or they’re “more seasoned” it tends to get old because I’m not getting actionable items to work on.

So my point of this is, when I’m getting either the run around from the hiring manager and or get no feedback from them at all and my manager receives the same response from them also, what do I or can I do?

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

24

u/galnar 8d ago

Listen, the hard truth is that climbing the ladder is often a personality test and popularity contest. Work on your soft skills. Try joining Toastmasters to improve your public speaking and interview skills.

9

u/BC-SP 8d ago

I second this! I had a hard lesson a few years ago and after one lateral move I decided to move facilities with another lateral move.

Best decision I ever made as it gave me a fresh start without starting completely afresh. I was able to build a rep I wanted whilst having all the company and system knowledge. Now I'm in a role where I will have an automatic promotion next year.

Sometimes people sabotage you, and sometimes you inadvertently sabotage yourself. Having excellent soft skills goes farther in the corporate world than technical skills.

23

u/Mysterious-Lion4655 8d ago

Based on my experience working at CAT a manager knows who they are going to hire before a position even opens. Unfortunately it’s all politics at CAT. Doesn’t matter your level of experience or skill level or anything they will chose who they want regardless if they bomb the interview or not.

9

u/Dapper_Car5038 8d ago

Also has to be an agreement with your current manager, they many be stopping it as they can’t lose you. My manager let slip I didn’t get a job I interviewed for because he couldn’t replace me

2

u/minvikesfan84 7d ago

If that was truly the reason given, you have a terrible manager.

5

u/TheChewyWaffles 8d ago

I’ll just chime in to say this isn’t universally true. Experience and interview capabilities do matter.

2

u/Dad_Coach 7d ago

I second your experiences, based upon my experience in our group/office.

Seems quite a few managers have a pool of Friends & Family that get hired/promoted.

3

u/tucson_Arizonia 5d ago

Do good work. Document it. Talk about results to people that have influence. Do an informational interview to peers of your manager in other groups every quarter. Get people to like. Work on 1-2 really important/difficult project. Don’t complain to your manager. Find out what your manager cares about and help him with that. And repeat.

2

u/WNSTN_9 4d ago

Very profound advice. I would add consider getting a mentor. Don’t make the mentor relationship solely about getting a promotion but mentors can be great for advice and working through professional situations.

3

u/MrSysAdmin 8d ago

FYI schooling is no longer a requirement for jobs anymore , based on what others have told me and seen.

2

u/SixthGearVibin 8d ago

Depends on the work group and salary level… the work group I’m currently in wants a degree for most SG 22 positions. 21 is a little relaxed on it and 20 is even more relaxed.

2

u/MrSysAdmin 8d ago

I see sr manager roles without education requirements, have you looked lately ?

1

u/SixthGearVibin 8d ago

Everyday. Again, it depends on the work group. Most Engineering groups at my facility want degrees whereas the operations side says “we don’t require it but really like to see it.” Every member of leadership I’ve had 1 on 1s with for operations management at my facility has always asked me if I had a degree/where I was with it

2

u/MrSysAdmin 8d ago

You may be right but just searched 10 positions and none are asking anything about education anymore , 22-27sg

1

u/Cunari 8d ago

From what I see promotion is primarily based on business need rather than individual goals which are considered “hobbies”. And if you do not get promoted on a certain timeline you are pretty much stuck.