Asking For A Demotion
By Joan Lloyd
Dear Joan:
I don't know whether I should resign from my company or just ask
for a demotion. I work as a recruitment supervisor but I am very
unhappy with what I do.
I can’t take the pressure and I oftentimes carry the workload
and burdens home. I have been thinking of resigning but all the
other jobs out there pay way less than what I'm already receiving
right now.
When the supervisory position was offered to me, I turned it down
at first because I really think that I don't have leadership
skills. I didn't want to be bothered by a lot of pressure, which
would make my life miserable. But my boss was very insistent so I
gave in. Now, that boss will be transferred to another area and she
has talked me into taking her managerial responsibility (without an
increase in pay-just increased job responsibilities).
Right now, I think I just want to be a plain "recruiter" free from
any pressure and stress. Is asking for a demotion normal when
others aspire to become leaders? Won’t it hurt my pride?
Answer:
Your former manager must be quite persuasive! Not only did she
manage to talk you into a job you didn’t want but she did it
twice. The lesson here is to follow your own heart when it comes to
career decisions. Just because some people aspire to move up into
the ranks of management, it isn’t for everyone.
Unfortunately, “career advancement” has typically been
defined as moving up. New thinking on the subject puts a different
spin on the idea: “career growth” is the real goal. For
some people that may mean moving up the hierarchy, for others it
means becoming the expert in their chosen field who moves from
company to company or out on their own, For others, it can mean
staying where they are and keeping up to date and enjoying what
they do. And increasingly, people are willing to step down and
sideways. It’s become more fluid and it’s about
time.
It sounds like you long for the job you once had. It was something
I am sure you did well, or you wouldn’t have been pressured
by your manager to move up. Frankly, I wish more reluctant,
unwilling supervisors would be willing to step back into what they
did best. They would be happier, their employees would be happier
and the company’s results would be better. So where does that
leave you?
If you do decide to ask for your old job, here are some things to
consider:
You raise the issue of pride. You are the one to honestly answer
that question. I know of a few cases where managers voluntarily
stepped back into their old jobs and pulled it off beautifully.
They simply explained that they liked their old jobs better and
decided to go back to what they do best and enjoy most. In both
cases, they saved face by being honest and upfront about their
choice. They also embraced their replacement and cooperated fully
in the hiring and orientation.
I know of a few cases where the choice was not voluntary and the
individuals were demoted. These folks wanted to stay with the
company and swallowed their pride and dug into their work and had a
positive attitude. It was tough to do with a bruised ego but over
time they were able to make the adjustment.
The key issue here is that you would be doing it voluntarily.
It’s much easier to explain to people and much less damaging
to your ego when you are the one who has made the choice—you
get to put the spin on it.
Unfortunately, when someone is demoted against their will, it
rarely works out. They often end up bitter as a result of their
embarrassment and loss of face. Frequently they try to undermine
the new leader and become the cynical sniper from the
sidelines.
Your salary would be reduced if you stay in your current company
but is that true if you left for a company that pays more for
recruiters? Recruiters can be quite highly compensated in some
industries, because they are the lifeblood of the business. You may
want to look into insurance, staffing service companies and
executive search companies, for example.
If you are that miserable I doubt the pay is worth it. If you would
prefer to stay with your current company, you may be able to trim
your personal budget or find some other way to augment your income
on the side.
If you do decide to step back into your former role, talk to your
manager first. She has been your advocate and she is the one who
did the arm twisting. She could be an important ally for you in
making your case with the company (and don’t let her talk you
out of your decision!)
Be prepared if the company says “no.” They might be
worried about some of the problems I mentioned. In that case, you
might even offer that they allow you to do it for six months (a
sort of “reverse probationary period”) and then assess
how it is working out. During that time you can demonstrate that
you are happy and productive again and a partner with the new
supervisor who has taken your place.
