Been offered a promotion but I don’t feel ready for it

[Whynotmakeittwo]

I have been at this company for a year. I love my job and am very happy with the role that I’m in for now. I don’t want to be in this role forever, I do want to progress, however I was happy for now. I feel confident and knowledgable, I don’t dread work, I am self sufficient. I can’t say the same for a lot of my previous jobs, so it feels good to be doing something that I’m finally good at and enjoy and understand and am not stressed with.

Someone on my team in the next position up has left and my manager has offered me the position before he advertises it externally. He has given me a couple of weeks to think about it. On one hand, I DO want to progress and now is my chance to move up. But on the other hand, I am scared. I’m scared to suddenly start a new role when I’m so happy in my current one, I’m scared in case im not good at it or in case I hate it and regret my decision. I could just not take it, and wait to see if another opportunity opens up down the line. But I have no idea when that will be. We don’t have very high staff turn over so I would just be waiting on people leaving or would have to leave the company to go somewhere else. This new role will be so good for my experience and where I want to be. I just wasn’t expecting it to come this soon.

Since 2020 I have just been bouncing from one job that I hate, to another another. I feel so relieved and thankful to be doing what I do right now and don’t want to mess it up. But I should just take it shouldn’t I? It will help me in the long run and it’s a good opportunity that is literally being offered to me. I just don’t want to make the wrong move and regret it

Are you female? I’m assuming you are as no man would ever utter those words. Managers don’t just offer these things fürchte fun, not in their interests to promote someone who is useless.

I would take it because otherwise some other random person is going to take your promotion. That you're happy in your role is a great sign, the next step up you might be equally happy and with more pay too! If you really don't like it you can reconsider but if you don't take it you don't know when or if you might have this opportunity handed to you again.

Yes I am female, and I agree with you. I think it’s just my bad experiences with previous jobs that I’ve hated. But you’re right, I did ask further details about the job to my manager who sat down with me and explained what it entails etc. he did say that he wouldn’t offer if he didn’t think I could do it. But is it sensible to start a new job that you don’t feel ready for?

They clearly think you are, that’s what really matters.
Go for it.

It’s scary starting anything new, which includes moving into a management position in your current place of work. You love your job already, you clearly like the company you work for and the culture. Being pushed out of your comfort zone and being challenged at work is a good thing, it helps you grow. Your manager wouldn’t have offered you the post if they thought you weren’t ready/capable. If you struggle/hate it, you can ask to go back down.

Ask your boss how your first weeks/months will look to help you decide, what’s the expectations, will you be mentored etc.

Try and frame it this way: you can take the job and keep the culture the way it is, carry on shaping the roles you manage and the working environment in a positive way and keeping it a place to work where others can also enjoy it. You do the role already that you’ll be managing so this is a big advantage.

If it goes external you could end up with a shit manager and end up disliking your job again, you just don’t know, sometimes you just need to grab the bull by the horns and go for it!

I have thought the same thing. I’ve imagined the scenario of some random person coming in and taking it, when I could’ve had it. I’m just trying to work out whether I want the extra pressure that comes with this role right now, when I’m enjoying what I’m doing now so much and don’t feel ready to move on yet. But yes I agree that I could love this new one just the same or even more! Ahh the fear of the unknown 😬

Your manager would not have offered it to you if he didn't have confidence in your ability. You would do well to have this confidence in yourself. No one expects you to know or do everything perfectly straight away. Absolutely take the job and good luck with it.

You never truly feel ready though do you if you look back through your working life and really think about it. I’ve acted up/managed in previous roles and never felt ‘ready’ as such and always done fine.

Trump and Biden were the top 2 candidates to run America: you got this!

I completely relate OP as I hate change, especially at work! I wish I could work on the same excel sheet at my desk for the next 40 years and have nothing change 🤣

But, being realistic, it sounds like you should take this. An internal promotion is nicer than having to move company to get a leg up, it should be less stressful. Is there a team you’d be moving into, can you ask to start shadowing one afternoon or day a week before moving into the position permanently?

This is very helpful, thank you! I definitely will sit down with my manager and ask the things you’ve mentioned as I do think that will help me. I have never had a role like this before so it’s completely unknown to me

I was in exactly the same position a couple of years ago and actually in hindsight it’s the best situation to do the ‘step up’- I found it was in my managers interests to look out for me and help me develop having offered me the position and I had the familiarity of the business and the knowledge from the job I’d just left, so there wasn’t the additional getting to know a new place/new people etc.

I’d say go for it- you tend to regret the chances you don’t take!

Ah I’m glad you can relate! Change is scary, especially when you are already in a good position. It’s a risk.
I think what you’ve said about shadowing for a day actually might be helpful so I think I’ll ask about that. Thank you!

If you're ambitious and you want to progress then take this opportunity with both hands.

There's been a few times in my career that I've been offered (or taken) big steps up, and I've felt at times a bit overwhelmed and out of my depth to start with.

But your manager wouldn't offer you the chance if they didn't think you should do it, and often being thrown in at the deep end is the best way to learn. You won't be as comfortable and you'll probably feel more pressure and stress, particularly in the first few months of the role as you get up to speed, but progression opportunities don't come around all the time. Turn this down and you might not get another chance in this company for a long time - then you'll be facing either waiting it out frustrated that you can't progress, or having to go somewhere else to get the next step - and it will be harder because you won't know the company already and the culture might not suit you.

Do it! Otherwise you will have someone you don't know managing you and trying to make changes etc and the job you are currently in may change anyway! I had similar opportunity and didn't take it because it required office days and I need flexibility due to disabled teen at home. I regret not taking it as I am now basically training the new person who will be above me when I could do their job with my eyes shut!

First reply nailed it. Do it.

Come on, OP. You can do it. You won't know how to do all the things when you're new in role, but you'll get the hang of it. If more experienced people are saying you can do it, trust their assessments and go for it!

Yes, what’s the worse that will happen? You won’t suddenly go from great to rubbish and they know you. As a recruiting manager, the joy of being able to recruit someone I know and trust is absolutely priceless.

Go for it OP ! It will be scary but do it anyway.

otherwise imagine a very annoying person getting the promo who might take the enjoyment of your current role away, this way you are protecting yourself

Take it OP! It is a golden opportunity!
You know the company, know your own role well and comfortably. Now, you need that bit of a challenge.
We all get nerves around these things, doubting our abilities. Just say yes!

Funnily enough… my job is in (in house) recruitment

It's a sliding doors moment. I'd take it. My younger self would be having the same doubts you are, so I understand, but these are the moments we need to grab with both hands. Good luck OP.

Grab the opportunity!

Take it and discuss with your manager how you’re going to get the training, feedback and supervision to make sure that you excel in your new role. Congratulations!