Advice: Demoted - now what?

If you have been demoted, here is how you can make the best of the situation - and come out better in the long run.

By Matt Krumrie, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: October 12, 2009 - 12:02 PM

Dear Matt: I've recently been demoted, which is better than being laid off. It was either take a demotion and cut in pay or lose my job. I do now have less stress, but I feel like a failure. Should I look for a new job and when I look for a new job, how do I explain my demotion and change in roles?

Matt: There are a couple of ways to approach this, says Mary Emmen, president of Columbia Heights-based NewHR, LLC (www.newhronline.com), a company that specializes in creating human resource solutions for small businesses.

Emmen says that if you choose to stay in your current job, you have a unique opportunity to use what you have learned in your prior position and apply it to benefit you in your new position.

"You have the advantage of a perspective that those around you in the same position don't have," says Emmen. "Now, how can you take what you know and improve the process or save the company money - think of the possibilities that can help boost your overall promotion potential in the long run."

Even though it's easier said than done, some healthy perspective about what happened can help alleviate some of your feelings of failure, says Emmen. It sounds like the demotion wasn't about you, it was about how the economy is affecting the business you are working for. Did you ask your boss what the chances of a promotion are in the future? Is this permanent? What happens if things pick up? Try and map out a plan for when things do improve - if you want to stay with the company.

Keep in mind, in today's job market, it's better to be demoted than lose a job. If the demotion is really discouraging and you are unhappy, start looking for a new job and create a job search plan to do just that. It's much less stressful to do that when you are employed.

If you choose to look for new job, when you are listing your positions with your current company on your résumé, put the reason for the job change right after or right underneath the job title and state "change in position due to economic reorganization of the company."

"There is no shame in it, so it doesn't do any good to hide it," says Emmen. "In fact, it becomes a good interview talking point, where, if asked, you can say you were grateful for the opportunity to stay, but you wanted to pursue opportunities where you feel you can have a greater impact."

Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, and has nine years of experience reporting on the employment industry. This column will answer readers' questions. E-mail questions or subject ideas to askmatt@startribune.com.

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