Buyer’s remorse can apply to many life situations, including a boss recommending you for and offering you a promotion. After you’ve been offered a promotion, it’s a good idea to let your superior and the company know they’ve made the right decision.
Knowing what to say when you get promoted and following a few professional steps immediately upon receiving the news will help you get started in your new position on the right foot.
Say a Subdued Thank-You
There’s a fine line between showing gratitude for a promotion and gloating. Saying a loud, “Yesssssss!” with a fist-pump can send the message that you were nervous about getting the promotion or are doing a victory dance. This will be especially obnoxious if you do it front of other employees.
On the other hand, don’t act like you knew you had the job in the bag. Let the person who informed you that you got the promotion know that you’re grateful and excited to get started, recommends Indeed.
If you get the news in person, a simple, “Wow, that’s great news” or “Fantastic, I’m very excited” are good starts. Follow with a note of gratitude such as, “I really appreciate this opportunity.” Finish with a statement or question about your desire to get started. You might ask what the next steps are, in terms of filling out paperwork, getting training or announcing the promotion.
After your initial meeting is concluded, think about sending a thank-you email to all of those involved in helping you land the position. This could be one or more department heads who interviewed you and anyone who recommended you. If you get your announcement from the HR department, make sure you thank your boss if she was instrumental in making the recommendation.
A gift to your boss or others who helped you get the promotion can be awkward if it seems like a reward, but treating someone to lunch or giving them a knick-knack for their desk shows your appreciation without seeming like it’s a payoff.
Be Careful With Coworkers
Ask your boss how the company wants to make the announcement. In some cases, they will prefer to be the ones who share the news with employees, customers, suppliers or even the media. In other cases, they might ask you to contact specific stakeholders to let them know you have a new role and explain how you’ll be interacting with them.
Fill out Your Paperwork Promptly
Your promotion might not start until the beginning of the next month, until the company finds your replacement or until you train that person. However, if your new position requires that you fill out any forms or perform other HR tasks, such as requesting new business cards, do them promptly.
Don’t put off the requirements of setting up for your new position until just before you start it. Taking care of them now not only shows that you’re appreciative of the position and eager to get started, but it can help you deal early with any problems that might arise once you get started, too.
Get It in Writing
It’s not uncommon for employees to get a promotion and make the announcement publicly, and then have the promotion rescinded. In many cases, this is perfectly legal. This is especially problematic, however, if the promotion comes with a raise and you enter into a financial agreement (such as for a new car) based on your promised pay raise and then lose the promotion.
In the event that a company “whoops” is too much for you to consider staying with the business, you might need to take legal action. Immediately talk to an attorney if don’t want to accept the situation to see what your options are.
To strengthen your position, get your promotion offer in writing, or in front of a witness who can support you later (without fear of company retribution) to make sure you are covered legally. Be careful that you don’t look like you’re being defensive.
For example, don’t send an email asking your boss to confirm in writing that you have received a promotion, what the title is, what the new pay rate is and the new start date. That might raise a red flag. You might try sending multiple thank-you emails, starting with, “Dear Bob, thank you for selecting me as ABC’s new marketing manager. I’m looking forward to getting started on the 28th as we discussed. Please let me know what the next steps are.”
Watch Your Social Media Posts
Be careful that your Facebook post, tweets or other social media announcements don’t seem like gloating. Avoid making jokes that might seem harmless (e.g., “It’s about time!”) but could backfire. Count to 10 before making personal announcements to help temper over-enthusiasm. This can save you embarrassment if the promotion doesn’t work out or gets rescinded.
Consider Your Competition
If another coworker was also up for the promotion and you won the spot, consider how she feels. This is one reason to be subdued when making in-office announcements. If you are now a level above this person, your relationship has changed and you need to be careful you don’t come off as patronizing when you talk to her and try to make her feel better.
If you can think of a way to tell the person you admire their talent and hope you can continue to work together, that’s helpful. However, realistically, you should consider that she might be hoping you choke in your new role.
Inform Your Professional Contacts
Using guidance from your employer, start letting your professional contacts know. Start with coworkers, and then move on to any vendors, suppliers or customers you work with. The sooner you get started with this (with permission from your boss), the harder it will be for the company to rescind your offer.
If you think the promotion is a solid thing, update your LinkedIn profile and Facebook page (if you’ve listed your job title there).
Reach out to your professional network to let them know about your new position, starting with those who work in your profession or industry. Contact your college and high school alumni associations if they publish job changes in their newsletters. Do the same with any local, state or national trade associations or professional societies you belong to.
