This August I started a new job in property management and I was told that I was brought on mainly as a ‘fresh pair of eyes’, and if I saw ways to make the office more efficient or our lives a little easier that I should bring it up.
Well, I’ve only been there a little less than three months but already a glaring issue has arisen that I think could be alleviated by creating a new position that takes a bit off the plates of everyone else, and naturally, it’s a position I’d like to take on, but it’s far too much to add to my present position.
So the question is, how do I present this to the boss? Because I don’t want her to think that I don’t like my present position (which I do), but I also want her to consider creating this new position and thinking of me for it.
She’s already told the higher ups that she’s looking for ways to add staff.
is it too soon in my time here to bring it up?
No–by three months, in my office, someone doesn’t seem “new” any more.
I think you could pitch this well. In your shoes, I’d present the position in a straightforward way, leaving myself out of it. And then once I’d fully described it, then I’d say “If the organization goes forward with creating this position, I’d also like to be considered a candidate for it. I really enjoy my current job and its responsibilities, but as I was thinking about the ways this new position could help the office, I found myself feeling enthusiastic about it.” Or something like that.
I agree with Cranky.
Definitely sell it first. And yes, you’ve been there long enough. The longer you stay in a job the less you will tend to see, actually.
But put it together very well before presenting it. Hack out all the details and make sure to mention that it will save money (even if it doesn’t seem to, you can make any position seem like it saves money just by saying that the job assists is customer service and “customer service is an invaluable resource to the corporation.”
I like the bit Cranky recommends about how to sell yourself for it.
For me, I guess it depends on the corporate culture. I work for a company that is pretty old school about certain things. They really won’t even consider moving someone into a new position unless they’ve been in their current one a year. Sadly, that’s probably caused a good amount of frustration, and perhaps even some turnover.
But I’m thinking that maybe your company is smaller (and hopefully a little more flexible) so that they’ll recognize that if there is a good fit and a need, they should go for it.