I couldn't understand what went wrong ..

Hi,

Re-evaluate your strengths. Ask yourself why your colleague was promoted and you weren't? What was it that he did that you didn't?

The game of politics is a tough one at the best of times and if you have the ability to be an effective IT manager, then perhaps you are simply not compatible with your management.

There is no real answer to your question. You need to do what is right for you. But at least critically relect on what has happened and learn from that.

Good luck in the future.
Cheers,
Tim.

They may think now, in contrary to when you were first hired, that they do not really need you, or better yet, aren't sure yet if they can't do with-out you and the extra costs. So, they may be doing what ever possible to hold on to you at the lowest costs until they know more themselves.

Don't let companies like this push you around - take it with a grain of salt, get what you can, and actively and seriously look for something better. If you don't they may keep on abusing you and just spit you out someday for now reason - and then you are out on the street with-out ever taking the time to search for something else. If a po9ssible new offer comes, and they ask, then tell them the current/previous company wasn't competent enough and you saw a danger for the future of the company, and in turn, for yourself.

The corporate work world is a fragile place. All it takes is one person not liking you, and that's it. You'll really have to go on your own gut instincts, and in my opinion a lot of prayer. Most likely if you are in a bad situation, staying theremay result in that becoming a worse situation. Do everything you can to be of service to everyone, and do everything you can to resolve any perceived conflicts. Most likely things can get out of hand without you even knowing it.

If you sense that things are not going the right way, find another position and start over. You'll have to look at yourself too, to see where you might improve.

I've found that the interpersonal skills are 98% of my job even though I'm in a senior technical position.

hope this helps.

I'm supposing here that at that time you were the highest ranking IT employee. As IT Manager I guess you're supposed to know what you have to do, especially that it's a "startup" company. You shouldn't ask anybody inside the company, or outside, on that (they probably don't know anyway), but beeing inside and knowing what the company is all about you can develop a plan of implementing IT related projects based on specific needs. I can't think of anyone else but you knowing what is to be done, and probably that's what everybody was expecting from you.
Sorry if that's not really nice to hear but my opinion is that you didn't meet the expectations, that's all.

UD - Your first Big Error was accepting a position without seeing a printed Job Description, and a wring chart of Organizational Departments. Your second Big Error was to let Management con you around with deceptive patronizing. The deception proved out when you got a demotion, and another got a promotion.

(1) Line up other employment. It is better to hunt for a job WITH a job.

(2) When the other employment is within your grasp, but NOT finalized, then go to your current Management andget direct answers to your career questions. With no direct answers they are just using you to charge the hill and let you get killed off when their product fails to market.

(3) Stay away from "Start Up" Companies. They are one step away from coming out of poverty, and one step away from success or termination. You have to eat and pay bills. It is no sin to work for a dependable Company for a couple of years to see where the Market is going.

(4) My Silicon Valley Engineer son left a firmposition to gain Big Bucks with a Start Up. Within 7 months he got a Bigger offer. Four months after taking the second offer BOTH Start Ups failed. He is now on the bricks with house payments of $2900.00 per month. With his experience he has severaljob offers, but they are with Companies that have to squeeze him in at below the tenured Managers. Big cut in pay.

Nothing may have been wrong with you. Sometimes these things happen - management makes a quick decision to hire before they have a good use for the hiree.

If you're embarrassed where you are, I would leave. But, take your time when searching out a new employer. Don't make the same mistakes: ensure that the responsibilities are detailed in writing before you accept. Also ensure that, before you accept, any expectations are made very clear (in writing).

when you're given the top job, you're expected to know what to do and be selfstarting. Use your experience and repertoire to flesh out a framework to be presented to the people to whom you answer. Let them agree to your proposals.

if you are uncertain about your abilities, then get independent advice as to how much you are worth. I get the impression that your confidence has been severly undermined by both your vocational and personal lives. Put yourself up for hire as a contractor, run yourcv past a few good contracting firms perhaps even a headhunting firm ? Maybe settle for another job at one level under Top Dog, then you can tell yourself that you have somewhere to aspire to if you want. It's not always the case that qualificationsultimately count - i know of a guy with an MBA who was told to play it down and push the experience side. Speaking personally, there have been only two places where i felt i did not fit and i quickly left them.

If it gets to the point where you don't want to go to work when you work up in the morning, what is that really telling you ?