Would you apply for your boss’s job if it came up?

[onflic]

I 100% would not. Me and my peers would be a nightmare to manage, there are always really hard decisions to make because resources are so limited, people always want more than you can offer at all hours of the day (with no on call) and it’s very outward facing so would mean a lot of suits and my current role is mainly jeans and a jumper.

What about you? Why or why not?

Good god no, I love my job and my work life balance, I appreciate that far more than I’d appreciate the extra 10K!

No because I’d have to work directly with the director and deal with her insane and unpredictable mood swings. Fuck that shit. I would have under the previous director so from the actual job role point of view, yes, but not in the current set up.

Yes, I'm being primed for it to be passed to me eventually.
My team is small and technical, we're too geeky to be much trouble.

Absolutely not, he’s underpaid and has to put up with nonsense from higher ups whilst not being allowed to make any actual improvements to the workplace that are desperately needed.

No, I report into the CEO and have zero desire to do that job. I got the job I have now by applying for my (then) boss' job so so I would recommend it generally!

I was recruited as succession planning for my old boss so yes, and I did. My next boss is the owner of the company, so no!

No, I was offered my boss's job and turned it down.

I wouldn't find the staff too difficult to manage but she has a high pressure job, which she's young enough and hungry enough to want to do.

I'm heading towards 60 and much prefer the easy work/life balance I have now.

I don't have a boss. But I think only one of my direct reports would apply for my job if it became available... and ironically, he would probably be the least able out of all of them to actually do it!

No because I'm not qualified - and don't want to be - although I can do 90% of his job in my sleep.

No. He is a marvel! Incredibly grateful for a fab boss who manages with kindness and grace some madness that would drive me up the wall. I prefer to be a key supporting person than take it on. The pay rise would also 100% not be worth it!

No. I retired yesterday.😂😂😂😂😂

No. Whilst I enjoy developing junior colleagues and running projects, I don’t want to directly line manage people again. I prefer the actual technical work

Nope, I work in a large public sector organisation and have reached my limit. Next level is up far too stressful and political and the extra money definitely doesn’t make it worth it. Will stay at this level until I retire in 10 years.

Well I’d love to but the boss is a Doctor and I am a HCA!
I am definitely not qualified enough for his job haha.

No - she has a very difficult job, even less down time than I do, works most weekends and most importantly I couldn’t do it or want to do it.

Hell no. She does all the boring bits of my job, all day, plus line management.

No, I was told I was going to have to do her job, which I had explicitly said I did not want in my interview, so I left. (Retired) They now have to replace both of us. 50p extra per hour not worth it for the extra work.

No. I don't have any qualifications and can barely manage my own household. I could not manage other people.

No. In fact I led the recruitment for my current boss specifically because I was caretaking the role and had neither the capacity nor the skillset to deliver what was required. Was absolutely delighted when we appointed someone and I was able to demote myself to their first line.

No way, and I think she might prefer mine too 😄🧐.

It just has, and no, absolutely not. I have enough stress just worrying about my own clinical practice. I have no desire to assume responsibility to manage other people's actions as well. Zero. None at all. Nope.

I was sounded out for it when his predecessor left (at that point I was a contractor, not a staffer). I've been so thankful I applied to a technically junior role that was much more in line with my skillset ever since. The curse of the job ladder is that the higher you go, the less you get to do the thing you actually love, and the more you have to manage difficult artists like me and sit in endless meetings with insufferable higher-ups. I personally think he could be a lot stronger in advocating for various things but I truly wouldn't have his patience (or people skills) so I can't say I'd be better at all.

Funnily enough DP has also been avoiding promotion in his company for about 10 years, for very similar reasons. He's so good at what he does that it's become a weird battle of wits where they try to manoeuvre him into a management role and he keeps ducking it while still getting salary rises.

I applied unsuccessfully for it last year! 😂 I'd still like it, and find it difficult not to feel I'd be doing a better job tbh. (I am aware this may well be an inaccurate take.)