I’m really frustrated right now and need some advice. At the start of this year my manager promised we’d work toward getting me promoted to Manager level by December. Everything seemed on track until he disappeared for months on vacation right during mid-year review season. This meant I didn’t get added to the promotion candidate list.
When he came back he said he’d fix everything and get me back on track. But then he went on extended sick leave for burnout. So I got transferred to a new manager who then got promoted and left. By year end I was working with my third different manager.
I put together a solid promotion case with great feedback from directors and clients. But since my original manager wasn’t there to support me and I wasn’t on the initial list, it didn’t matter. The whole thing fell apart.
I’m burnt out from working crazy hours and weekends thinking it would pay off. Lesson learned - always have multiple people advocating for you, not just one manager who might disappear.
Now I’m weighing some big decisions. My girlfriend might get transferred to San Diego and I’m wondering about job prospects there. There’s also a chance to move to Melbourne with my current company where the culture seems better. Part of me wants to leave consulting entirely and try product management roles instead.
Has anyone dealt with similar career setbacks? What would you do in my situation?
Man, that promotion mess really sucks. The Melbourne move sounds interesting though - better culture might be worth it. International experience always looks good on your CV too.
Saw this recently and it changed how I think about global opportunities. Sometimes a fresh start overseas beats fighting the same broken system.
Three manager changes in one year? That’s not bad timing - that’s organizational chaos. Your situation perfectly shows why succession planning matters. Companies that don’t prep for leadership changes consistently screw over their employees. About 40% of internal promotions get delayed or killed because of management turnover. The Melbourne move isn’t just about better culture - it’s strategic. International assignments usually speed up career progression by 18-24 months compared to staying domestic. You’ll see different business practices while dodging the promotion bottleneck that’s got you stuck. Pivoting to product management makes sense with your consulting background, but doing it from a stable international base gives you way more leverage than just bailing completely. Geographic moves often reset how people see your capabilities and potential.
That promotion nightmare sounds exhausting! Melbourne could be your perfect reset - new environment, better culture, and international experience opens amazing doors. Fresh starts sometimes beat fighting old battles!
Your story shows a huge blind spot most professionals have with corporate advancement. The real problem wasn’t just bad management—it was putting your entire career in one person’s hands. That’s asking for trouble when organizations change.
The Melbourne opportunity looks solid beyond just better culture. International assignments usually fast-track careers because you get exposed to different markets and ways of working. This experience pays off big time when you want to switch industries or roles later.
Product management makes sense coming from consulting—both need strategic thinking and stakeholder management skills. But timing’s everything here. Changing location, industry, AND role all at once? That’s a recipe for chaos.
I’d take Melbourne first, get settled in your current field, then start exploring product management. You’ll keep your momentum while building that international experience that actually sets you apart. The San Diego option might sound nice geographically, but it won’t fix the promotion issues you’ve been dealing with.
Corporate promises are worthless - learned that the hard way. Three managers isn’t bad luck, it’s how these companies work. They wave promotions around then act shocked when people get pissed off. Melbourne sounds way better than chasing another promotion they’ll probably pull away. You’d escape this management shitshow. San Diego’s nice but you’d be doing the same grind somewhere else.
Dude, I’ve been there and it’s soul-crushing when you do everything right but politics screws you over. That whole “three managers in one year” thing happened to me too - you’re constantly starting from scratch explaining your value.
Honestly? The Melbourne move sounds like a no-brainer. I did an international transfer after getting passed over and it was the best career decision I ever made. You’ll probably get that promotion faster overseas since they need proven talent. Plus when you come back (if you do), that international experience makes you way more valuable. Sometimes the best revenge is moving on and crushing it somewhere else.
