Coping with not getting promotion

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I am wondering if anyone else is in my situation and how you deal with it.

Gist of story: I'm in my mid-30s, been employed by the same very large public sector organisation for ten years. Joined at graduate entry level after a very long year post-uni job searching. I generally find the work interesting (I'm an analyst) and I have been able to work well with most of my colleagues in the different posts I have held.

There is a pretty well-defined progression path in which you are usually considered qualified for/expected to apply for promotion to the next level after 2-4 years. I have tried and failed to achieve this numerous times (I'm actually starting to lose count now). Twice I have started and then given up halfway through filling out the application form. I have passed the form-filling stage a few times only to fail at interview then next time I don't even make the form sift. This happened to me very recently shortly after being given a very positive annual review in which it was specifically mentioned I was capable of working at the promoted level. I am at a total loss as to where I am going wrong. Each time there seems to be something different lacking which prevents me from advancement and I have practically given up trying to figure out what it is. There seems to be a set of magic words or phrases (jargon) which you are required to use in applications. I dislike this sort of terminology, in fact I relish ensuring my written and spoken communication is done in plain English as far as I can manage. Perhaps this attitude is coming through my application even though I grit my teeth and try and use the "magic words" as best as I can.

I am actually quite content with the level of job I currently have and the salary is perfectly adequate to support me. I am not a high-flyer or whizz-kid with lofty ambitions but my concern is that I will damage my long-term career prospects if I spend much longer working at a level that is really meant for someone relatively recently out of university. I simply cannot see myself being allowed to do this for the remaining 30 years of my working life, or even the next 5 years. I know some people decide to look for a job somewhere else when they feel they are not getting advancement but I cannot see myself doing that either. I found it difficult enough getting this job in the first place.

I would be interested to know if someone else has had this sort of experience and their thoughts on it.

Most of the time, companies have a "management track." In exchange for more responsibilities you get more money. What may not be obvious is that your performance becomes a factor of what your employees do, not what you do! You may need to demonstrate more leadership potential to move up.

Luckily, where I work, we have a non-leadership track just for folks like me! I've gotten several pay raises with no increase in actual management responsibility. A tangible benefit besides the pay is the extra vacation time--about a month a year.

I had a similar problem, though at the time had not been diagnosed with ASD; if I had I would have gone to the HR department and spoken to them about it, and sought support in attaining promotion; not any special treatment, just help making it a more even playing field compared to the majority who were able to cope with interviews, application writing, and the process, as well as better at being team players, which in that environment tends to be more important than being competent in your job.
As I didn't have a diagnosis, I spent 6 years in a government department, changed my branch or section about 5 times, never had the support or assistance others would expect from my direct supervisors or manager, and eventually threw in the towel after my father in law died; I had a pretty big meltdown, and it was pretty much quit or keep extending leave without pay, which did not provide me the closure I felt I needed.

So, if you have a diagnosis, and you are comfortable sticking your neck out, I'd recommend you stroll down to HR, discuss your condition and the impact it is having on your career, and ask if they can help you find a solution.
Usually employers like yours, especially if you've come in on a grad program, are happy to support and nurture their staff, especially if they can see they have potential.
If you're not willing to do that, or haven't been diagnosed, it may be time to evaluate yourself and your role, and see what you can do to change the situation, again a good idea to go to HR, usually they'd rather help get someone back on track than have to recruit a new staff member when someone leaves.

I'd hate to get promoted.

Would it be possible to go to your supervisor and say what you said here--that you are happy with your job as is, but that you don't want not moving up to hurt you further down the road? It seems like a perfectly reasonable position to me, but it might be good to have your statement (with your supervisor's response) somewhere in your file, in case something does come up later.

Have you ever heard of the Peter Principle? Your current situation might be a blessing in disguise. I would rather remain competent in a current position than get promoted to a higher (more powerful and better-paying) postion full of responsibilities that I can't juggle well.

Are you taking advantage of educational opportunities provided by your company? Management typically involves putting in time after hours--around here, they aren't even on the clock and don't get overtime for working past the normal hours when they need to meet deadlines for reports and such. You aren't going to look like a serious candidate unless you do your job and take seminars or classes designed to make you management material.

Being a manager might be a great way to help other Aspies--you could put together an extremely productive team to show what we can do!