Should I continue in my current role or start looking for something new? Is a typical question that will come to mind as you evaluate your future and professional goals after a demotion.
We advise you to give this some serious thought since, in the case of a new job, the grass isn’t necessarily greener—simply, it’s different. That implies that giving your new (demoted) role a genuine chance to succeed could be worthwhile before giving up. The benefit of this is that, should you finally decide to leave your current position, you will be better off doing so with a glowing reference in hand. Let’s go over the benefits and drawbacks of each choice.
How to Adapt After a Demotion and Maintain Your Position at Work
So, how do you recover from being “benched” at work? Begin by being modest. Consider this a wake-up call to remind you of the strengths you now possess in your position and how you may return to a state of engagement, productivity, and ensuring that you are doing work that matters.
Next, concentrate on regaining your workflow. Your feelings of rage, resentment, shame, and other strong emotions are there right now, but you have a plan of action for going forward, so you need to stick with it and stay in the “pocket” of discomfort for a while.
Finally, practice patience. Remember that you are assuming a new position, which may include a learning curve. Perhaps you used to run a team, but now you need to learn how to participate. Give yourself some grace as you gradually establish a fantastic reputation, talent, and accomplishments since recovering from a demotion takes time. Also, don’t lose hope; just because your position has changed doesn’t imply that excellent prospects are now out of your reach.
The Best Way to Leave Your Company After a Demotion
It’s time to start your job hunt if you’ve determined that you must leave your organization and position. Even if it’s a demotion, one benefit of looking while still working is that it’s always simpler to hunt for a job when you’re employed.
You are also not eligible for unemployment benefits if you leave work without a backup plan. Depending on how long it takes to find a job, you could need to utilize a lot of your emergency savings to get by. The most significant time to look for a job is when you are still receiving payment if you can avoid that worry. Just be careful to keep it quiet to your present boss!
The next step is to start networking, let your friends know you’re searching for work, and update your application materials, including your cover letter, resume, LinkedIn profile, and any documents that are particular to the position you’re applying for, such as writing samples.
Once you start getting job interviews, you should be ready for typical inquiries, such as “Why are you seeking a new job?” They could be even more specific and inquire about your demotion. Let’s get started on it.
What to Say in a Job Interview to Explain a Demotion
A demotion doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker immediately, even though we know you’re probably anxious to discuss it with a potential employer. Reframing the promotion to be positive is your aim. Focus on your abilities, previous knowledge, and how you’ve gotten clarity about what you want to accomplish next and why rather than concentrating on your demotion.
You may have taken online courses to assist you in improving your communication abilities, but your demotion may have made you aware of a communication gap you have. Or perhaps your demotion revealed a flaw in your specific talent, but you’ve subsequently made efforts to improve it.
Be truthful if the reason for your promotion was something beyond your control, such as a restructure, but don’t use this as an opportunity to criticize the business or voice your complaints.
By adjusting your responses to reflect what is most important to the firm and the role, you may present yourself as the ideal candidate. This entails completing an extensive background study on the business and using the job description as a guide. You may ensure that you respond to their inquiries by stressing how you fit and the experience you can contribute when you know what the firm is seeking, what they value in their culture, etc.
How to Respond to Questions About a demotion in an Interview
1. Don’t point the finger at others or the company
Don’t discuss your previous employer during the interview, as we have advised against doing. You don’t need to tell a potential employer that the promotion resulted from their subpar management abilities. Immediately answer the demotion and move on to the interview’s other crucial questions.
2. Make a positive out of your promotion
Find methods to frame your promotion as a plus if the interviewer presses you on it. Perhaps after being demoted from a client’s account, you enrolled in online project management courses and engaged with a career coach. You now have more faith in your ability to manage several jobs simultaneously.
3. Pay attention to Why This New Company and Role Are a Fit
Pay more attention to why you’re interested in this new career and less about why you’re leaving your current position. Do you respect their ability to lead? Maybe you’ve been using their stuff for a while. It’s possible that the position plays to your strengths and seeks someone with your specific background. Before your interview, research the position and the firm so you can highlight your achievements.
Demotion sucks! It stings. Check this article to see why the issue of demotion is not as negative as it sounds.