Job advert for a senior and slightly different industry

[Emmajane88]

Initial thoughts on this please!

I have a reasonably well paid and ‘good on paper’ job in the civil service. I’ve worked in both public and private organisations and have moved jobs every 2 - 3 years over the last 12 or so years into more senior roles - all in the same industry.

I’ve seen an advert for a job for a relatively small organisation. It’s a slightly different sector to the one I work in. In fact, I wish I’d studied for that sector at uni instead of what I did! Anyway, the organisation works on matters which are also a passion of mine in a place that I love, without going into details.

So there’s that, the slight change of sector, and the fact that it’s in a much more senior role to what I’m currently in. Am I setting myself up to fail from the off?!

One of my main fears is the fact that there are one or two employees there already who are younger than me and in the ‘correct industry’!!

There are 2 things I ask myself when looking at a job......
1: Would I enjoy it
2: What would a man do......

The second one seems strange but men typically only hit 50- 60% of essential job criteria but still apply for jobs women however are around the 90%+ mark!

So if the answer is you would enjoy it and a man in your position would apply then go for it!
Quite often (unless niche or medical) other industries like a varied background as you can bring something new to the table.

You've nothing to lose by applying. It certainly doesn't seem to have stopped the majority of applicants when I was reviewing c.v.'s earlier today for roles in my dept. (Jesus, give me strength!! What a miserable afternoon rejecting profile after profile because they didn't meet the clearly stated requirements for the role but persisted in applying wasting both their and my time).

Obviously it depends on the role / industry / your competition as to whether you have a chance. In my world you wouldn't get very far because we can be very picky as we get a LOT of candidates wanting to work for us. We'd be wary about you looking to move jobs again. Moving every 2-3 years in a 12 year period would be viewed suspiciously (as either under-performance or not being realistic about your own capabilities / progression) as well as raise a concern over loyalty / commitment and I can guarantee some of our c.v reviewers would reject you purely on that basis. But your industry could work very differently and it might be the norm.

Thanks both, two slightly different but equally useful replies.

Could I ask what industry you’re in HundredMilesanHour?

As for the questions, I really do think that I would enjoy it, albeit it with new and potentially difficult challenges at times, and yes… a man would definitely go for it and indeed does it already! A reasonably older man too!!

We had a recent applicant who did not hit a major part of the desirable requirements but was such a strong candidate they got the job.

Go for it!

Yes just go for it.

I'm in Financial Services.

Please apply. What on earth are the downsides/cons to applying? None.