I have worked for more than a decade in banking and for the majority of time been at my present company. Over time, I have slowly moved up the ranks and I think I have proved my worth as I was even temporarily assigned as the acting head when our boss left and also when there was restructuring of the team. However, even though I was able to handle everything I was never officially promoted. I'm tired of being passed over for job and have them hire someone externally. Management tells me that next time it will be me, but I don't know if it's just a ploy to keep me onboard. Should I seek a position elsewhere to boost my bargaining power come performance review time? Although it seems I have look elsewhere to get ahead, I also feel it would be a shame to leave what I have worked so hard for over the past decade with nothing to show for it and I don't want to stay sitting on the bench.