Apologies it will be a long one:
Currently working in a Band 8a role in the NHS. It's a fairly niche job which provides operational support rather than clinical input or operational management and is generic across all specialties/areas rather than in a department such as IT, Finance, HR, etc. (This is relevant).
I've been looking to move on for a while now - I don't hate my role but I've been doing this type of work for 8 years now, and I'll be honest it's a bit boring and 'Groundhog Day' - I'd really like to progress and get my teeth into something new and more challenging. So I've been looking for a role at an 8b level. There's no 'senior' version of my role or similar in my Trust, so it's not just a case of 'stepping up'.
The issue is that due to my line of work I have progressed to this level with very little operational/staff management. I have been responsible for a team of staff in the past, but this was quite a while ago, and I don't feel it fits the 'significant experience' often required for this type of role - although it's frustrating that this is decided subjectively rather than given a specific timeframe (but that's another issue entirely). Without a specific profession as outline above, my options are limited to:
Service Manager: very operationally focused and lots of management so not sure I'd meet the criteria - also the normal route for clinical staff to progress into.
Other: I've only seen one role advertised in this time that would fit my criteria. Basically the senior version of my role but in another Trust. The advert was closed early as apparently there were 'too many applicants' - but it's clear from everyone I've spoken to that someone was already earmarked for the role.
I'm doing shadowing of senior staff, working through all of the CMI qualifications, have enrolled on all internal development courses that are available, and have tried putting my name out there. But absolutely no luck whatsoever! Any tips at all for what to do...
I'm not horrendously unhappy where I am but I'm just so bored, and yes the extra money would be nice given I'm a single woman with a family-sized mortgage and a penchant for nice holidays! I just wish someone would take a chance on me, but I'll never be lined up for the role before applying...