We joined the company the same time, same role, but this other person gets client-facing work and growth opportunities while I’m stuck filing reports. My performance reviews are actually better than his.
Keep a quiet record of the project distribution over the next 60 days — just note who gets assigned what and when. If the pattern is clear and consistent, that data becomes useful in a performance review conversation or if you escalate to HR. But more practically: the fastest fix is often to just ask directly for a specific project when one comes up, in writing. Email your boss saying ‘I’d like to take lead on the XYZ client proposal, I think it aligns with my strengths.’ Saying no to a specific request is harder for a manager than just defaulting to their favorite. And if they say no twice with no reason, you have your answer about whether the situation will ever change.
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