I agree, you need to do a satisfactory job training this guy. My other strong recommendation is to start looking for a job elsewhere, as it is obvious the company you are working for does not realize your true value. This way, you preserve your reputation, such as it is, with your former employer, while taking advantage of the market while there is still time.

Realize that eventually they will probably dick this guy as well, so it's not like training him is going to do him any favors in the long run, only help you get rid of a problem and allow you to move on.

If you think you can get away with it, you might not tell this guy everything you know. Give him enough to take care of the basics, but keep a couple critical details just to yourself. That way when you do leave for greener pastures, you will be missed, but not blamed.

I did this on a recent assignment, and was able to negotiate a substantial increase in my pay and reputation in the market, while at the same time putting my previous supervisor and the new hire in a bit of a bind. I worked it in such a way that his peers realized how much I did that I wasn't getting credit for, and why would he have let me get away from them. Now I use my former dept manager as a reference instead of the supervisor that passed me over, and he likely won't go any higher for a long time.

I'd suggest you train them just wrong enough. Small stuff, not obvious -

"Big client - his name is Jack, but he loves the nick name "knuckles" so after you get to know him, use the nick name"

"Remember, the most important thing about this excel file is that you always use european currency formats"

and so forth. lots of little stuff.

Martin...You're a bad man...I love it!

I was in a similar situation once. It hurt my pride and offended me that the boss thought I was good enough to train the new guy but not to promote. It was a wake-up call to me. I started looking for a new situation.

I helped the new guy, did a little basic record-keeping of what I did to orient him to local procedures, and took a while to work through being kind of miffed by the situation. I resolved to leave and felt good about that.

I identified what kind of work and environment I wanted next, took about a year to get some training and new skills, and started networking to meet people. It was the first time as an adult that I looked for a job while I still had one. This gave me the financial security to pass on one fair offer with only slightly better pay until I got a really good offer from a much better company. By then I was leaving for me rather than because of the old boss or company, but I will admit to a petty enjoyment in the shock on my boss's face when I gave notice I would be leaving.

By the way, some of the reasons why I was passed over were legitimate and to this day I'm still somewhat weak in a couple of those areas.

In hindsight, being passed over was a good thing for me because it raised my discomfort level and awareness so that I was motivated to improve my situation.

I wish you all the best.

First thing you must do is determine if you had on the basis of training, lenth of service, diciplinary record etc, a reasonable expectation of advancement into that position.

If you have then decine to do on the basis that it is not a reasonable request or instruction. If you are good enough to train him then you are good enough for the position.

Under the circumstances a reasonable person would conclude that your boss is not acting in good faith towards you. It is simple prudence to assume that your boss intends to dismiss you once you have this chap trained.

If you are given a direct instruction to train him, require your boss to put that instruction in writing. Make it clear that you will only comply with a written instruction and that you will consider that instruction to be tantamount to a direct threat of dismissal without pay or references.

I cannot determine from your post whether your boss is your immediate superior or your employer. If he is simply your immediate boss then make a formal complaint via your company's procedure. If he is your employer then make it clear, in writing, that you are unhappy with the situation and ask for a formal written explanation.

I would strongly suggest that you obtain formal advice from someone trained in employment law.

And go work for the opposition.

I'd have to say, you have a serious decision to make. The company has just signaled that you will NEVER move up from where you are. If you're OK with that, fine, but remember, in that situation, you are also a replaceable asset

I'd be totally professional, train my replacement as well as I could (while taking careful note), and have my resume out on the street. When it came to to give notice, and they asked why, I would remind them of the passed over promotion, and the fact that it was a clear notice that my options were limited at the company from that day forward. I'd wish them well, and leave

BTW when/if they ended up calling with any "non trivial" questions, you say "You may hire SARbound consulting, my current going rate is (say $125/hr), with a 4 hour minimum if I have to come in, or billed by the 1/10th hour on the phone, from the time the phone rings, till the time I hang up, rounded up to the nearest 10th" - aka act like a professional - a lawyer

I am from the "do the best you can" generation, so I would have to say that you have two choices: Quit, or training him to the best of your ability. But I would only do it once for this employer, if a similar situation should come up, I think that I would be looking for a new job...

I agree.

Always take the high road.

You come out in the end looking more professional and classy to future employers in the long run.

(not as emotionally satisfying, but a wiser course of action).

And document, document, document.

You do the job they want you to do, and you do it well. It’s their company, not yours, they make the rules.


Do the job right to the best of your ability. If you feel you deserve more then they are giving you, take a hard look at it from their side and see where you are deficient in their eyes. Then correct it to make yourself more valuable to them. Or if you feel their expectations are unrealistic (very possible as I have had bosses that wanted a lot more then the pay rate deserved.) find another job.

The world is full of other jobs, move on. Or start your own business.

Two things,

1 In a few years, how would you like to look back on the situation
and think of yourself and your actions.

2 I had a similar thing happen and it was obvious when training the
new person I had the greater skills. Afterwards I found a job elsewhere. Two years later the place made a major restructuring, I
applied and got an even higher position, (I had since increased
my skill set at the new job). Things change and if their poor decisions caused you the loss of the promotion, things may right
themselves over time.