Applying for a more senior job. Advice..

[Skribble]

I am applying for my first managerial job, I don't think I have much chance but I am going to give it a go as it is an assistant manager position. I have loads of experience at supervisor level in most of what this job involves. They say 2 years experience in a similar post including previous supervisory management experience. I have that minus the actual management, but have supervised 100's of employees. Argh!!!

It has a phone number for informal discussions, am I expected to call, what to I discuss, will it count against me if I don't? Its local council arts department.

I know they will expect me to know all about the place and be up to date with H&S and current goings ons but I feel totaly out of my depth and keep thinking they probably have someone lined up for it already and are just advertising because they have to.

BUMP

I've got the job description now and I have done most of it before to some degree and some of it I have loads of experience in.

if its local authority, then they assess your application on the form you submit, and that alone.

its when you get an interview that the chat comes in most handy - its good to find out as much as you can about the job and pick up on what they are really looking for.

the main thing is to write something against every point in the person specification. that gets you an interview.

Thanks mazzy, what do you mean write something against every point exactly?

Do you think I should only phone then if I do have a query? I have been wracking my brain trying to think what to say if I phoned up without looking silly as it is a small place and the person would probably be involved in the later interveiw.

Hiya Skribble. I think its a good ideas to make sure that in your application you have written something in response to every point in the person spec, that demonstrates that you have the experience/skills etc. Make sure you can say something about all of the essentials, preferably the desirables too.

I wouldn't worry too much about the informal phone call thing either way. If do feel like you can ask some intelligent questions then you might find out some useful things about what to emphasise in an interview, but if you don't ring it shouldn't count against you.

Is it a nice job?

Ah yes I will make sure i show I have experience / qualities that match all the stuff in the job ad/ description.

I can't think of anything to phone about as i have worked in the place before as a subcontractor and kids have performed there and I frequent the cafe also .

I don't know if nice is the way to describe it but it is a progression from what i am doing at the moment which I do enjoy. It will certainly be a challenge. Getting chilcare will be challenge enough but I have decided to worry about that after rather than before and put myself off before I even start.

if you're a regular punter there (and have even worked there)m you'll be in a brilliant position. good luck.

Thanks, I just suspect there will be loads of people in for it with much more experience at manager level whereas I have only been a supervisor allthough i am often in charge of the team as we don't always have managers at every job we do, so we have to run the thing and make all the decisions etc.

I will just have to get that point accross, I have even taken a team of 20 away for 10 days, i orgainised the accomodation and sorted out the whole thing.