There’s a possibility of a job coming open in my office - and it’s a job that would be a step up from my current position. I’ve never held a position that’s not in the administrative/secretarial field, but I KNOW I can do this position (it’s more in the sales/fundraising field). I’ve been at my current job for a year and a half, so I’m well-aware of how the company runs, and I think I’ve proven myself as a good employee to them - they seem to like me a lot, and they seem to like my work. I got a great review in August, so I do have that to go on.
But I don’t have the experience that they’re looking for in the possible open position. I’ve let my manager know how interested I am in gaining the experience required, and she’s trying to help me get that, but in terms of the open job, I don’t have it yet. However, I still feel like I could do the job and do it well.
So what can I do to make myself more desirable for the open position? They know I’m interested in moving up, and I’ve made it more than clear to my boss what I’d like to do - not in terms of this specific position, but in the long-term, I just need to be able to prove to them that I have the ability to handle a more challenging position.
Is it the kind of thing that you could take a night class or two as a substitute for experience? Maybe Marketing 101, or Business Law, or anything arguably related to the new job duties?
I do plan on going back to get my master’s degree within this field - I really enjoy the field, and hope to stick around since I think I’ve found my niche. I wasn’t planning on that for at least a few more years since I do have a very young son and don’t get to spend enough time with him during the week as it is. However, I’ve been looking into the master’s program online, so that may be an option. If not the entire program, I may be able to do one of those classes online. I didn’t even think about a related class, even if it’s not involved in the master’s program. Thanks!
First, go into the night with only your spear and your loincloth to arm you. Do not come back to the village until you have the carcass of a jaguar in tow.
Then, you must find a concoction using herbs and bodily fluids that will heal the old woman dying of the Plague in Hut #3.
Last, you must prove that you are able to tell a good joke. This is the most vital and most difficult of your trials. Many a would-be Warrior Chieftan have met their demise because they lacked a hearty sense of humor.
Only once you have completed these trials to the full satisfaction of your current Warrior Chieftan will you advance. Good luck, apprentice.
In almost all cases I’m aware of, the person who gets the promotion is already doing the job. So, with permission, see if you can get some training and do some sales calls. You’ll see if you really want to do this job, and if you do well you lower the risk that you won’t work out. Training is fine, but how you interact with prospects is probably more important.
I do have a lot of interaction with people/prospects on other projects - the position I’d like is more of a traveling job, and unfortunately, I’m needed in the office. I have taken the lead on getting donations for several events and have been successful with those.
We’re not technically sales, although it’s sales-based - I work for a non-profit, so it’s fundraising, but obviously, you need to employ sales tactics to get donations. I have a positive relationship with many of our board members, and many of our donors, so I’m hoping that can work in my favor. I’ve asked to be included on a few sponsor meetings with another director in the office, so hopefully, those will suffice.
Try to make sure that you can at least get an interview for the position with everyone who has a say in the hiring at the meeting. Then, sell yourself as you would present a fundraising presentation. Use PowerPoint, written materials on the product (you), and demonstrate to them that you can actually do the job you are asking for. Play up all the donation and grant writing work you may have done. It’s always tought to get people to see you in a new role. Good luck.
I think perhaps a good approach would be to highlight your skills as opposed to your experience, and how those skills mesh with what’s required in the new position you’re after.
I assume you know the company well enough, and have a good enough relationship with your current boss, that you could suss out a list of the skills that the people doing the hiring would be looking for. Those might be, for example: ability to use sales techniques, negotiation skills, familiarity with potential donors, budgeting skills, and so forth–as long and as specific a list as you can get.
Then build up a skills-oriented resume, demonstrating just why you think you have each of the necessary skills. The objective here is to sell yourself: you, Elza, have all the skills neccessary to be a success in this position, so whoever hires you should have no qualms whatsoever about about your ability to accomplish the tasks.
And think about this as a long-term project, too. The worst-case scenario here is that you wouldn’t get the job you have your eye on…but if you’ve emphasized your skills right, people will have their eye on you, and will give you the experience. And the next time a similar job comes around, you’ll be a shoo-in.
The best way to get advancement is to let it be known you want that, and the best way to let it be known is to ask for advice how to get it. This makes the person you talk to into an expert and they will want to give you advice.
Here is what I do. Even if you don’t get this job, I recommend this as a long-term strategy.
Let them know you are interested.
Keep a journal. In it put your accomplishments and your failures. IOW, everything. If you fail, make sure you put how/why, even if it is your fault. If it is your fault you will be able to show what you learned. If it isn’t you will be able to show why it wasn’t. Don’t assign undue blame though. When you succeed, put down how/why. If you had help, this shows that you are willing to work as a team. When you did it all on your own, you can properly take credit. Don’t go out of your way to make yourself look good.
Approach them with a list of your accomplishments. If they bring up your failures, review your journal. Let them know why you should be promoted.
If you don’t get the job, work well with the person who did.
Continue keeping your journal. It will help with the next promotion or the next job interview if you decide to leave the company.
That’s excellent. It sounds like you’ve been doing the job.
I assume they know you are interested. It’s probably a good idea to ask a mentor in the new department what training is required for those kind of jobs. But once you know that they know that you are interested, don’t go and bugging them about why they should promote you. If they’re interested, they should either interview you or just do it. If they’re not, for whatever reason, there is nothing so annoying as someone who is not really suited for a promotion bugging you for one. I’ve been on the receiving end of this, and all you can say is interesting - you don’t want to get into explaining to someone why they are not suited.
Some companies like to hire from the outside, but most would rather move from within - much safer.
I obviously don’t know what they’re looking for, but if I was the hiring manager I’d think you’d done exactly the right things, and even if this job didn’t work out, I’d give you coaching on what to do to snag the next one. Good luck, but whatever happens you should feel good about how you approached this.
Technically, the job isn’t quite open yet (the person who’s currently in the position is my closest friend in the office, and she confided in me that she’s applying for two other positions within our company - which our manager is aware of). If all goes well, it should be coming open for interviews by the first of the year or so.
I’m coming away from the thread with some really good advice - thanks for all of it. Even if I don’t get this position (and I’d definitely work well with whoever comes in - I won’t harbor any resentment if I don’t get the position since I know it’ll just be that I need more experience on paper, per the company), I know I’m on the right track for a higher position at some point - hopefully, it’ll be this one, but if it’s not, I can be patient.
(Honestly, I think I’m starting to get a little bored with my current status…I’m tired of administrative work, and I’m ready for a bigger challenge…but I can keep doing it until they feel it’s time for me to move up.)
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