Backstory: I've been working for 4.5 years at a retail pet chain. I first started out as a part timer and was rapidly promoted to management. I've outlasted all my uppermanagers and became a solid member of the team. I chose this path because I loved helping people and being around pets.

I had three previous store leads tell me (which included a dm) I'd be up for a promotion to upper management. It's a big responsibility with a big chunk of change for the promotion. Before my last store leader left, he pulled me into the office and flat out told me our dm and hr made the decision I was next in line for the promotion.

Fast forward to now: My new store leader and assistant store leader informed me two weeks ago I would become the new assistant store leader for a new location opening close to where I live. They were in communications with a store leader who was in charge of hiring people for the location.

I did a stellar interview according to the guy doing the hiring. But, due to my lack of not knowing how to do the scheduling (something you learn being an assistant store leader) I was out. I was also beaten out by a guy with 8 years experience. Which didn't hurt too much.

I vent to a friend who's a store leader at another store and he informs me they just lost their manager who was less qualified and lacked scheduling knowledge just as me to become an assistant store leader at another location. He adds that he was very surprised because he didn't consider his manager a good candidate - that they gave him the interview for experience.

I am devastated. I worked so hard and was told I'd be getting the position by several members of management and now I have nothing. It hurts coming to work and reading district wide emails about congratulating the newly promoted assistant store leaders by the dude who lied why I wasn't picked.

My wife is doing everything in her power to keep my head up. My associates I manage have a sense something is terribly wrong and doing their best to cheer me up. Love these guys and gals to death, but I am drowning. I don't want to be here. I just wanted to vent. I catch myself having mini panic attacks. I work in retail and I am supposed to be on the floor helping, but I am on a knife's edge of having a complete melt down.