Can I start a thread to discuss general ambition, chat rather than specific advice needed?

[StealthPolarBear]

I absolutely love my job, it inspires me. I've been doing it for about 5 years now and it wasn't a promotion when I got it so am ready for the next challenge. But I'm nervous about straying too far and as I work for a large organisation I'll stay internal if possible.
I havey boss's backing and she is getting me onto the right projects. I am keeping a log of "good stuff I've done", making sure it gets on my appraisals. I am reading round my area of specialism endlessly.
Is there anything more I could be doing?
Is anyone in a similar situation?
Why isn't there a relevant topic for just general work issues that aren't "employment" as such? :o

Work has got a bit easier so I'm going to spend some time over the next few days updating my skills log. I do stuff and think "I must write that down as an excellent example of x" but it's so easy to forget when it's on to the next thing.

Ah. Ended up working instead and forgot. I need something new to challenge me.

What do you do, if you don't mind my asking?

I'm still feeling the need for a new challenge and a job has come up at the level above me. I'll either love it or hate it and I can't work out which.

One of my favourite quotes is that success is a multiple of;
What you know you can do X who knows what you can do X who trusts you.
Network network network.

Also to do with taking up opportunities as they arise

Well a brilliant secondment opportunity gas come up...starting to question if I'm as ambitious as I think I am!

I'm going to go for it. The one guarantee is if I don't I won't get it.

Friday not a good night to chat about work :)

Go for it!

Thanks. Think I will. Need to think about careerdevelopment rather than one job

I have found moving companies and industries really helpful for my career

Also, if you boss is supportive, making sure they know what you want and are looking out for opportunities for you.

Being well known in the profession also good - well connected with head hunters, speaking at conferences writing for industry magazines etc.

The opportunity is internal which is as far as I'm willing to go for now :) finding it difficult to motivate myself to get the application done.

What's stopping you? Is it just the slog of getting it done? Or are you getting (entirely normal) nerves about the application & not wanting to get started?

My suggestion: short walk to shop to get treat of choice, then get started on one bit. Good luck!

It's more that I don't want to leave the team I'm in. Which is stupid, I've not even applied yet let alone got the job!
I also have a lot of work on and feel this is low priority.

On the other hand it's the obvious next career move and I am ready to make the move up.

And feeling grumpy about some really interesting projects I'd have to leave

Okay - so fast forward 18 months. You didn't apply, and still haven't been promoted.

Do the interesting projects/nice team make up for it? Or are you going to be getting frustrated/bored? Will the team still be the same or will it have changed?

I'll be irritated with myself as I will think I'd have stood as good a chance as the person who got it (I know who it's likely to be)..but if I do get it ill look at whoever is doing my current job and feel jealous.
Or will I? Will I even have time? I feel quite passionate about the subject matter of my current job iyswim. Less so for the new one

Are you likely to find that passion when you're deeply immersed in it? Or maybe it means the next job might just be a couple of years, stepping stone to the next point, and in 18 months you'll be looking ahead to moving back towards current area but at higher level with a broader perspective? Hard to speculate much given I haven't a clue what you do

Hard to tell from the outside - I've often felt reluctant to leave an effective team when I've been enjoying the work, but when in the next job I don't really want to go back once I've got into it. Is it likely you would feel like that?

Yes, probably. And the coming back thing is very true too. In fact I should have mentioned this is a secondment anyway so I'd have no choice :o

Thank you, by the way. You're really helping

Glad it was helpful!

Interview next week

I have ro do a presentation, no power point but I can take handouts. I'm happy to talk through what they want but I don't want to take a handout that just summarises my speech. I have a few ideas about how I might present the key points on paper but does anyone have any bright ideas?

Inspiration received :) handouts benefiting from a glass of wine or two