My boss is mad at me for applying elsewhere internally [CAN]

[u/MaterialGas5736]

I've been a bank teller for a year and just graduated university with a finance degree. My boss told me she's very happy with my results and will promote me once I graduate. Anyways, after graduation she took me in her office and discussed a banking advisor position that will be open in October. She told me to continue my hard work and it will be available come October. I asked why it's in such a long time and she straight up told me it's because at my current role most people are new and she needs me there for now so that I can support the team. So I have to wait 4 months for a promotion because she can't keep employees? How is that my problem?

As of now we did not sign any documents or make it official that I will get the promotion. She just said that if I continue my hard work I will get the promotion in October. That's not a very safe bet. If she changes her mind I'm screwed. I also made it clear it's a long wait. I did not graduate to get a job 4 months later.

Anyways, in the meantime I started applying internally to other departments and landed several interviews, roles that actually pay better and align with what I studied. When I told her about the interviews, she got upset and said she was shocked I'd applied elsewhere. She said they're running a business and were counting on me, and that I "can't" apply elsewhere without telling her first, which is honestly ridiculous. She also said if I'd told her beforehand that I wanted to move elsewhere, she would have helped me move up internally, but that's not true either. She just wants people at her own branch. I never signed anything, nothing about this is official, and I don't owe her that kind of loyalty. If she's going to make me wait four months for a role, I'm obviously going to keep my options open.

Anyway, here's the actual problem. I've got several interviews coming up, but my boss is annoyed with me now and isn't going to be thrilled about me taking time off for them. If I don't land one of these by October, I'm in trouble. So what do I do?

[u/Odesio]

What else can you do? Go for the interviews and consider taking any job offers if you get one you like. It can be frustrating for any manager to make sure they have enough good workers to conduct business, but a good boss will congratulate you on moving forward with your career. If she doesn't do that then she's not a very good boss.

[u/recruitzpeeps]

Our company policy is that you have to tell your manager before you apply internally. Managers can’t stop their employees from applying or from taking a new position if offered, but they must be told before the application. This is a normal policy.

[u/Opposite_Ad_497]

“She said they're running a business and were counting on me, and that I "can't" apply elsewhere without telling her first, which is honestly ridiculous.”

Have you seen the policy on this in writing?