Last summer I moved to a nice little college town and got a staff job at the university, as one does. It’s a good solid job with ok pay and great benefits, and also the biggest employer in town for obvious reasons. I like working there in theory, but my department is managed by a looney bird and I want out.
I’m guessing people move from one department to another all the time, but I have no idea how to go about doing that and I hesitate to ask around and spill my hand to the wrong people. Anyone have an idea what the etiquette is for this situation? Do I just apply for open positions? Stop by and introduce myself to departments that are hiring? I’ve checked the website and there is no “internal job applicants” link as there was at the college I attended. I’m sure the best plan is different at different schools, but humble opinions would be a helpful place to start.
The ‘wrong people’ are going to find out sometime no matter what. As far as I know, you just go through the normal application process with that particular department. We’ve had a few people do that here and it’s no big deal.
Go to HR, tell them you like working for the college, but would like to know about internal openings that you might be qualified for. Tell them that you like your job but that you and your manager are not a “fit”. Don’t emphasize this aspect too much unless you want to start a stink. Just let them know you’d like to move and find out how the process works and what your options are. HR is really the only avenue.
I don’t know, I’m on staff at a large public university and jumping from unit to unit, department to department and area to area is so common that anyone staying in one place for more than a couple years is looked at as some kind of loon. Usually, it’s for the usual reason: money. There are only so many open spots that will open up in your own department, but if you’re looking at the university as a whole, there will be quite a few opportunities to move up.
Anyway, if your HR people are decent, everything should be secret about the whole process until you get just about far enough along to know whether you’re getting the new position or not.
I’ve only been there a few months, so I’m thinking that’s not going to work. There are some pretty obvious problems in the department, inappropriate behavior and covering up skills deficit for the manager. It’s just a whole lot of drama and every single day is a big meeting where we process feelings and the manager cries. I’m telling you it’s crazy town.
Department heads are aware of the situation and have decided to let things sit for now for whatever reason so there’s not much hope for improvement. I tried to check in with the union and ask this question on the phone but their response was what’s your name and department and I really didn’t want to start with that information at all.
I guess HR is probably the right avenue, but I’m not sure how honest I’ll have to be about the problems.
People move around all the time. Go to Human Resources and see what’s open. The university here posts the jobs online, so check and see if yours does. I don’t think you have to give a reason, and unless you’re Secretary to the President, or you do this every six weeks, I don’t think HR even wonders about it.
They do, and I’m well qualified for several, I’m just wondering how to go about it. Good to hear that it’s not a big deal and that people do move around as I suspected. So, I guess I just apply and hope they don’t call my manager first thing. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t, but I’m new so what do I know?
I also work at a university and moving around between departments and colleges is very common. I’ve only had my references checked when I was actually going to be offered the job I applied for, not right off the bat.
While every university is different, in the public university I work at: “I’m looking for higher pay or a different schedule” or " I’m looking to work somewhere a promotion is more likely" are so standard a reason for changing jobs no one thinks twice about them. I would not mention anything about your supervisor though because no matter how diplomatically you phrase it, it will get back to them and they will get offended. Of course some loon supervisors get offended if you breathe. I would suggest going to HR with a specific job you would like to apply for and transfer into rather than just a general question about open positions and transferring. It will look more like your motiviation is desire for that job rather than problems with your current one. If your worried about them wondering why your looking at vacanies, use the old looking for a friend excuse. Like a said, every univeristy is different, but at the one I work it’s very common for people to be checking HR or calling around the departments even looking for vacanies for friends and family that are out of work.
No honesty required. Nobody in HR wants to hear your opinion. That’s not what they are paid for. That’s not what *you’re *paid for.
Their job is to see that school policy is carried out in your hiring, so that they don’t get into trouble. Don’t tell them that you are happy or not. They don’t care. And, don’t tell of any problems, or lack of fit. They don’t care about that, either, and you may not only amuse them, but may also put yourself on their ‘bad’ radar.
They will pass judgement on you, however, in one form or another. As in all job applications, you **don’t **let on of any problems in your past/present job. You want to get the job for which you apply because it seems to be fascinating, a great opportunity/challenge.
Since I have worked in a college for years, I can also speak as one who knows: Go online, or wherever they have job openings posted. Submit application as you would at some other place of business, and behave in the exact same manner. No more, no less.