Have you gone for a job that is a leap up from where you are?

[islandboats]

Wondering if IABU to go for this.

It's in a related field to the one I sork in (health) and bottom of salary scale would be only slightly more than what I earn now but does progress a bit higher than the one I'm on.

The issue is that it is managerial, overseeing a kind of broader health- related initiative. I have experience of supervising others and could cobble something together about having managed a few projects (ish) (kind of). But I haven't been in an actual management role and would be talking my way in. At the same time, it would be a really interesting new challenge and I think I could do it.

Has anyone ever gone for something in this way and pulled it off? Any advice?!

The potential downsides of going for it are (a) looking like a fool in the interview and (b) er looking like a fool and having gone to the effort of application/ interview prep/ interview outfit.

Go for it op, why not!

Yes, and I got it. Fake it til you make it kind of thing. My only advice is to go into the interview with confidence, believing you can do the job - which is easier said than done.

Lots of women suffer from imposter syndrome at some point (or all the time!) so you are not alone.

Ooh thank you both. I have massive massive imposter syndrome but can talk the talk fairly convincingly (even though deep down I'm waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and throw me out).

dailymail was it a big step up from where you were? And were you able to wing it?

Definitely go for it. I've done it a few times and each time the new role and expectations forced me to develop new skills and apply what I know from other roles. I always remember from a school assembly that men apply when they meet some of the criteria but women wait until they are perfect and still doubt themselves. As someone who now interviews for senior professional roles in my team I can confirm that it's often true and I never think badly of ppl who give it a go.

If the worst that can happen is you dress up for a day and get good feedback on how to develop your career it's not a waste.

How else do you progress?

Do people actually apply for jobs that move them sideways? I thought the whole point is to move up.

As an employer, I would not tend to offer the job to someone who is going sideways because I don't think they will stay because if they are good and ambitious, they will get restless. Good people want to grow in their roles so I prefer to be able to offer a stretch.

Gosh well I was looking for some enlightening viewpoints and I've got them! I'm absolutely guilty of looking at criteria and ruling myself out because I don't think I meet every one of them. And it didn't even occur to me that going for a step up would be viewed positively, whereas going for a sideways move would be less so.

I need to have a long think about this stuff. I think I might be holding myself back.

blueshoes I think I need to come and work for you actually. An employer who wants to see people grow in their roles sigh

Yes, always. Why would you go sideways? Aim to go up and for at least at 20% rise each time.

Yes I have several times early in my career, each time I got the job. I've also done it when I wanted to go to university despite not finishing high school and not having a single qualification to my name.

I have always been brutally honest, as in "I have no experience doing x, y or z, but I have done 1, 2 ands 3, and look at these examples of how I applied my experience in different situation, how I learn quickly and adapt..." Etc etc etc.

I now do quite a bit of recruitment as part of my job, and we definitely look at ability and motivation not just actual experience. We employed someone recently who didn't have the qualifications or experience of any of the other applicants, but he was driven and has exactly the kind of personality we needed for the role, which none of the other applicants did. He is turning out to be an absolute gem.

Go for it, what have you got to lose? Its all valuable experience anyway

Absolutely go for it. All management starts somewhere! I've just got promoted as well and feel like an impostor at times but its getting better now.

My sister jumped up 2 grades at the bbc.

I read somewhere that womens careers arent as successful as mens because they apply for the next position two years too late.

Bottom line is, do you want the job? If yes then you lose nothing by applying.

Ditto to all of the above! especially believing in yourself and stating clearly what you can and can't do. Go for it. From my experience women doubt themselves far more than men when going for promotions and higher levels.

I went for a job after maternity leave. It was way above my level but I sold my skills and nailed it. Within 3 months they saw more potential and gave me an additional area of responsibility and a pay rise! I'm still there and learning every day. It's a great company who likes giving people opportunities based on their desire to learn and improve, not just their existing skill or age.

We've recently promoted someone in to a senior role because we know their development areas better than we would know an external candidates' development areas. They applied, didn't think they'd get it and they nailed it and currently flying in the job.

I am good at what I do but I'm humble about it too and know when I struggle and who to turn to for help I also occasionally think someone will ask how I got in the position I'm in on the terms I'm on 😂

I made the leap from my people management role to project manager in iur business. Not really any project manager experince.

The first time someone sent me a schedule for a project, i didnt have a bloodly clue how to read it and had to go see a woman who did know, that had worked with.

Tbh its worked quite well. My director loves that as I dont have much experience i come up with other ways to do things. Everyone else on the team thinks in the way they gave been trained to through their qualifications. They can only do things certain ways. My director told me that she loves that i throw the rule book out, but still make sure its done correctly and to standard.

My experience at working in the area that we are doing projects for helps me see pit falls and failure points way before anyone else.

Even though i am new and unqualified, i bring something to the table. The company gave me a pay rise from my old job and is paying for me ti get the qualifications. Buy my director nade me promise not to change how i work because the courses tell me i should do it a certain way.

Wow thank you all so much for posting. These are such inspiring stories. I need to sit and really look at the job description of the job and try to paint my own skills and experience into it. I always think there must be some amazing person out there with all the perfect skills but I have been involved in recruitment myself and know logically that that isn't always the case. Gosh I have been holding myself back by the sounds of it.

I work for the NHS . I've always applied for jobs that I don't have all the 'essentials' but I have the desirable.
The last post was a band 4 assistant practitioner. I didn't have my degree( doing at the moment) but still got and interview. Didn't get the job because of the degree issue, but the feed back was worth it in itself. Got told I interviewed really well, knew my stuff , had experience but the experience was in the wrong department (?) no theatre only icu . But hey , take every opportunity with both hands, go for it

OP, is this an internal position or for a different company?

May not be relevant but if it is an internal position but to a different department, be careful not to rock to boat in your current position but otherwise, go for it if it can be managed. If it an internal promotion within your own department, then I'd say you have nothing to lose even if you get knocked back - you can get good feedback and more clarity on your performance and what needs to improve. Going for promotions shows your manager that you want to progress - not everyone wants to so it is a breath of fresh air.

If it is with another company, absolutely go for it, if only for the experience! No downside I can see.

Thank you. It's not internal so my current employer wouldn't have to know anything about it (unless I actually got it!). I think I need to start applying for more roles in general, I have been treading too carefully I think.

islandboats Huge step up - salary increase of £20k. The interview went fantastically. I then had a wobble when I got the job and thought, "Shit, what if I turn up on the first day and can't do anything?!" but, of course, I could. I started the job last year and it's all been fine.