work question - stay or go?

[thelonelyones]

A bit of background:

I've worked for my employer for 15 years (public sector) in various roles. I joined my current team 3 years ago doing a job that I absolutely loved. It was totally my thing. A very niche area that I had been doing voluntary outside of work so I had the skills and experience when this job came up. All was well and I made some good customer relationships and formed a really good friendship with another member of the team. First time I'd had a work best friend, I know that sounds silly.

Then after 2 years, there was a team restructure and I got demoted into a role that is much more broad. I am no longer a 'specialist' which is what the role I did before. That role no longer exists. All to do with business needs, and less budget etc. I was, and still am, completely gutted. My friend chose to leave rather than be demoted but for the specialism I was doing, all external positions are much lower paid and therefore leaving to work elsewhere doesn't seem to be an option for me.

I was given the opportunity to apply for an alternative role within the team at the same level. There were 2 positions for 4 team members and who didn't get it would be demoted. Lets call them A B C and D. I'm D.

It was between me and two other colleagues (as my friend, A, in the team, chose to leave). colleague B got it and I was the only person in the team who got demoted! B left as well after one month and they advertised the position. I applied again, and didn't get it. It went to someone external this time. So now there is a new person above me (new B) and colleague C who has been made my line manager.

A and C hated each other for reasons which are now becoming apparent to me. C is very passive aggressive. One minute she seems nice and supportive, the next she cuts me down and makes me feel shit. She will send emails LIKE THIS, or THIS which I dislike. She also sent an email the other day saying "if you find this too scary or difficult, just let me know" with the whole team and her manager cc in. It was only managing an email inbox, hardly rocket science. I felt so shit. She also tells me not to wear certain colours "the next time you go to x meeting as it doesn't suit you"

I do like my current position. I don't love it, but it is customer facing and I enjoy the customer interaction.

My only issues are that I feel I am capable of more. I have more qualifications than anyone else in my team and more years experience than the new B. I am not happy that my pay has been cut. I also dislike C as a manager and honestly feel at times she wants rid of me.

A position has come up in another department, 10 months maternity cover, and it is higher paid. It's in an area that interests me and I have some experience of. I've been interested in entering such a role for a while. It would give me more experience, get me away from C and give me back the extra pay. I know the 2 managers and they seem quite nice. The office location for this role is much closer to home.

However, I am worried I don't have all the skills & knowledge it is asking for. Also it is entirely desk based and I worry that I will miss the customer interaction, even though my current role is lower paid (still good compared to private sector but still)

I've submitted an application but I keep re-reading the job description and hovering my finger over the 'withdraw application' button because i'm not sure if I am what they are looking for!

Sorry that was an essay! My question is - do I stay where I am or do I go?

Your manager sounds like a bitch. I say go for it.

Definitely go!! Definitely apply, definitely interview, definitely go and don't look back!! See if they'll second you over so you don't 'lose' your current role but if I were you I'd job search towards the end of the secondment if they'll do it and not go back, how soul sucking for you!! Did they give valid reasons for passing you over twice?!

The first time I was told by my then manager (who also chose to leave, sorry forgot to mention that), that it was "for the best" as I may have "found it too stressful"

I have a history of anxiety which I had disclosed to him and C knows too. She has told me that she has mental health problems too.

I was also told that for the written exercise part of the interview, I had written too much, which I acknowledge was a stupid mistake as it had said 300 words. I wrote 325.

The second time I was told that the new B performed better but my interview and presentation was still an improvement on the last time. I was told my written exercise was too short. I wrote 293 words!

Yes its soul destroying but my DH is like, oh you still have a job, its less hassle, be thankful etc. So that makes me wonder, should I just stick it out, especially as I like the customer interaction and I get thank you cards etc all the time which is nice and tells me I'm actually good at this (even if its not exactly what I had wanted to do)

Since my demotion, they have taken on 3 more staff at my new level. I'm late 30s. They are 21, 22, 23. They are all nice, but I have a BA, MSc, PHD and 20 years experience in this exact field. None of them have a degree and the 21 year old admitted in his interview he had no knowledge of the subject but thought it would be interesting. He got the job. So I'm sorry if I sound ageist but FFS, what was the sodding point in me doing all these qualifications....?

Go for the other job, don't withdraw your application. If you're not suitable, the worst that will happen is you won't get the job.

You should apply. If you get an interview and get offered the job and decide you don’t want it, you can always turn it down. I think you’ll regret the opportunity in the future if you don’t apply, you’ll always wonder “what if”.
In terms of meeting the requirements, go over the job description with a fine tooth comb and make sure you have demonstrated how you meet each point. You’ll need to in order to pass shortlisting, and then prepare for interview by thinking of a good clear example of those skills in your past employment.
You can do this! Chin up, go get that job!

Are you selling yourself at interview? In my experience public sector cannot take into account anything they may know about you but you don’t actually mention.
Even if your manager knows you’ve got all those qualifications and experience they can’t score you on it if you don’t reiterate it at interview.

It's always a competency based interview plus a 10-15 minute presentation. Sometimes a written task or other exercise. The position I'm going for is an analyst role where I have some experience but I do worry that the exercise will be on software that I may not be fully experienced.

As I said, I do suffer from anxiety and that contributes to my fear of trying new things.

You have absolutely nothing to lose by applying. Only consider your options if you are issued the position.

I would have left the moment I got demoted. Go for it, don't waste this opportunity.

But you can shoehorn your qualifications into any of the questions in a competency based interview!!
Panel _Tell me an example of a time when you demonstrated x.
You - I know from my x qualications that x is a valuable skill, and here is a example of when I applied it ....
Interview answers are STAR format, yes?

Next answer, you say I know from my x years of experience that ....

Go for it- we are trying at my employers to avoid more than a few ‘essential’ criteria on job descriptions for the exact reason that women are much less likely to apply than men if they don’t hit every point. Don’t worry about it, and stress in the interview that your past shows that you are very willing to learn and love new challenges. Do not withdraw, your current place sounds horrible!

Go for it.

I read, possibly on here about the diffence in attitudes of ,en andcwomen when it comes to applying for jobs. A woman only applies if she thinks she has all of the criteria. A man sees he has some of the criteria but thinks he can wing/blag it.

Apologies for the typos.
Also
Good Luck.

Go for it!!
The current situation probably won't improve.

MumW that's such a generalisation. I'm a woman and many/ most times I've applied for jobs thinking I can blag it.

Go for it! Your confidence has taken a big hit but you may well be the best candidate on the day this time around.

Ask about the software the test will be in etc. Speak to the current line managers ask them about the role etc.

It sounds like you've had 2 solid years of a world of shit being heaped upon you and relentless chipping away of your self-esteem (I can't believe that "if you find this too scary or difficult, let me know" email - that's gobsmacking) - no wonder you're now doubting your abilities.

But you know you can do it - at the same time as telling us that you doubt you have the skills and knowledge, you're also evidencing how you do have the skills and knowledge. So please go for it - you have nothing to lose.

Go for the job - an interview is a two way process, you are there to see ignore it suits you as well as the other way round.

If you get offered the job then is the time to decide

Extra experience new faces new work - you've nothing to lose

How do you feel about it being a temporary position?

Local Govt bod here too... prep for your interview, as others have said it will be competency based interview. Look at the essential and desirable criteria and identify a few examples that will demonstrate those skills (its amazing how many people don't).

Please listen to the question and answer it - silly, but people get so nervous that they tend to want to tell interviewers what they think they want to hear. Don't second guess, just answer - they will probe with follow up questions.

Ask good questions, why not ask about a secondment? They are much more common between local authorities these days and if it is the same authority they may consider it given the new role is maternity cover.

Go for it, they worst that can happen is that you don't get it, the best that you get it and you want to give it a go!

Go for it and if you don't get it use it as an axcuse to go somewhere else.

I mean seriously, cutting your pay, demoting you, constantly promoting other, less competent, people over you. Why in the hell would you want to stay if this also falls through? Besides, elsewhere you might have more of an opportunity to work with customers. This company you work for has screwed you over again and again and you don't sound happy about working there either.

thank you so much for all your feedback, you've made me feel so much better. Yes I do really doubt myself and the past year and a bit have been really shit.

I'm okay about it being temporary, it actually makes me more inclined to apply than a permanent position would because if I hate it, or I'm not good at it, then it's only 10 months. And yes, it can be done as a secondment

Get out of Dodge, Cowgirl! This bitch is not helping your anxiety at all!, is she? I would say that you are in fact, threatening the hell out of her so she is going out her way to make your anxiety as bad as she possibly can.

Another one saying go for it! You're more likely to regret NOT trying than trying. Sock it to 'em!!