[header] How to respond when a promotion is rejected [title] Sleep on it before talking to anyone. [step] Rather than busting into your manager's office as soon as your hear the news, finish out your day quietly and go home to unwind. The disappointment may be too fresh to have a productive conversation about why you didn't get the promotion. 
[substeps] If your boss or the hiring manager tells you in person that you didn't get the promotion, thank them for taking the time to interview you. Avoid asking questions until you've had time to process the rejection.