Advice Needed - Denied Promotion

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Specializes in Critical care.

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Hi all. I apologize for the long post but just need some advice as I'm feeling really down at the moment. For the last 8 years I have been working as a clinical nurse advisor with the Ambulance service.  I'm currently a band 6 but I want to progress to a band 7 role. Over the last 4 years I have applied for a band 7 position six times and been unsuccessful.  Five of these positions were within the Ambulance service, basically a promotion to line manager.  I've asked for feedback each time and had some vague comments that I don't have enough management experience.  I know this isn't true though as the last two people they promoted have less experience than I do.  

I am currently in the process of moving to a new area (don't need to change jobs, just switch my base) and I have applied for a couple of jobs at the local hospital.  I got an interview for these but again was unsuccessful.  This time I was told I don't have enough recent hospital experience.  I just don't know what to do next. It feels like I'm just being knocked back all the time and I'm starting to feel this means I'm not good enough.  Should I just accept that a band 7 role isn't going to happen for me and try to make the best of it or keep trying?

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Specializes in ER.

How long did you work as a nurse for before taking on your Ambulance service job?

Do you do any bank or agency shifts to keep your skills up?

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Specializes in Critical care.
12 minutes ago, skylark said:

How long did you work as a nurse for before taking on your Ambulance service job?

Do you do any bank or agency shifts to keep your skills up?

I worked in critical care for 6 years before joining the Ambulance service. Not at the moment.  I used to do some agency but it's difficult to work it around 2 young children and my current job

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Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

A similar thing happened to me way back in the days of the old clinical grading system. I was an F grade, desperately applying for G grade posts and being rejected time and again. I had a colleague in the same position.

I eventually applied for a very different F grade post and got  it. The subsequent experience gained led to me very easily  getting a G grade post followed by an H grade post. My colleague had a similar experience.

Hence, based on my own experience, I would say try to figure out which band 6 post would give you additional valuable experience and best prepare you for the type of band 7 post you want. Band 7 opportunities may well follow afterwards.

Basically don't give up on your band 7 ambitions, just put them on the back burner for the time being and expand your horizons at band 6. Maybe now isn't quite the time to climb the ladder but I'm sure it will come.  Good luck.

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I'm wondering if these "I can't find a job" posts are coming from small towns? In my area, there are so many unfilled positions. Four large health systems are hiring anyone and everyone.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
On 6/27/2022 at 4:10 AM, 2BS Nurse said:

I'm wondering if these "I can't find a job" posts are coming from small towns? In my area, there are so many unfilled positions. Four large health systems are hiring anyone and everyone.

You know this is the UK forum? Totally different system.

The OP has a job but is asking for advice/help on how to get a promotion.

 

 

To the OP, you may need to bite the bullet and decide which way you want to go.

If management then perhaps get a management qualification - somewhere like the Open University or your local university would be good for that. (I did that a few years back and gained a nationally recognised qualification. Looking NHS managers in the eye and telling them that, "you can't spell management, never mind do it," was so satisfying.

The other option is to concentrate on nursing and perhaps also think about applying for Band 5 posts to get some current experience.

To quote DavidFR; 

On 6/18/2022 at 12:52 AM, DavidFR said:

Basically don't give up on your band 7 ambitions, just put them on the back burner for the time being and expand your horizons at band 6. Maybe now isn't quite the time to climb the ladder but I'm sure it will come. 

Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical care.
4 hours ago, GrumpyRN said:

You know this is the UK forum? Totally different system.

The OP has a job but is asking for advice/help on how to get a promotion.

 

 

To the OP, you may need to bite the bullet and decide which way you want to go.

If management then perhaps get a management qualification - somewhere like the Open University or your local university would be good for that. (I did that a few years back and gained a nationally recognised qualification. Looking NHS managers in the eye and telling them that, "you can't spell management, never mind do it," was so satisfying.

The other option is to concentrate on nursing and perhaps also think about applying for Band 5 posts to get some current experience.

To quote DavidFR; 

Good luck.

I already have some management qualifications, ironically through my current post, and also have completed a masters module. I'm not going to apply for band 5 positions as they would mean taking a significant paycut

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

From your original post;

On 6/16/2022 at 4:49 PM, Hellebore said:

...I was told I don't have enough recent hospital experience.

And there's your problem. You don't have enough recent hospital experience. So what are your options? 

 

16 hours ago, Hellebore said:

I'm not going to apply for band 5 positions as they would mean taking a significant paycut

Then you will need to stay where you are.

You would be at the top of Band 5 and it would only be for a year or two but would get you the experience you need and you can continue to apply for senior posts.

Have you tried NHS24? They may be similar enough that you could transfer over.

 

I get the impression - please correct me if you think I am wrong - but I think you want to be a Band 7 just to be a Band 7.

I have no problem with ambition but the NHS is full of people who gained their positions because of the "Peter Principle." Get some experience and don't add to that total.

On that thought, perhaps the ambulance service are having the same misgivings as the hospitals. They feel that you have no experience as front line ambulance staff so will choose a candidate who does.

 

On 6/16/2022 at 4:49 PM, Hellebore said:

I'm starting to feel this means I'm not good enough.

No, it's not that, it's because you have the "wrong" (wrong used advisedly) type of experience and it is up to you how you rectify that.

 

Again, good luck with whatever you decide. I know that these things are never easy.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

It's bound to knock your confidence when you are unsuccessful on so many occasions,  that self doubt and "imposter syndrome" really starts to take hold.

Personally I really don't think interviews are the best way of getting the best person for the job in, but it's what we use so much of the success is based on interview technique (assuming the interview is fairly conducted) 

Can you access any coaching in your organisation,  it may help you work through what your options are and help clarify what you want. 

I'm happy to have an off forum chat with you if that helps, I do quite a bit of career coaching and interviewing as part of my job. 

Let me know if I can help 

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