Applying for a new job after 23 years working for the same university...

[NigellaWannabe1]

Hi,

I work as a Senior Lecturer on a teaching contract and my dream job has come up in another university. It is a professional services role heading a very large team and they want someone with a teaching background who also has very significant experience managing courses. I tick most of the (many) boxes but, I after 23 years working for the same university, I feel a little lost. My questions are:

• This is quite a senior role and I would basically skip one salary band altogether if I got it (I'm at the top of salary band 8 and would start on band 10). Is that a problem in itself? I do meet nearly all the requirements (more info below).
• I have huge, quite specific experience in this kind of work. I did my current role to a higher level of responsibility than my pay scale due to my line manager being away from her post for two years following a work-related investigation. How can I express this in a way that keeps the confidentiality of the matter and respects its sensitivity? It coincided with the pandemic, which impacted my courses very badly, and I led on a significant course restructure at a higher level very successfully.
• I have a significant social media presence. My Tik Tok account is related to my subject (and that subject is critical to the new role) and I have 350K followers. I am nervous about disclosing this in case people feel I'm shallow/scrolling on my phone all the time. But my take on it is that I've managed to connect with a global audience interested in my subject at a time this subject is rapidly declining in numbers - I could potentially lead on a social media strategy in the role (this would tie in nicely with some of the responsibilities). Good idea? Or shall I leave it out of my CV?
• One of the job requirement is managing teams. I have managed large teams of academics for my courses but haven't line managed anyone. The word "line-management" is not in the requirements, though. Am I worrying about nothing? I'll have to line manager people in the new role.

This is the most perfect role for me and I know I can do it very well. Please help me get shortlisted!

1. Given your experience go for it! You''ll have more experience than many that might apply
2. No reason to give the actual reason the line manager was away for 2 years, let them assume it was due to Covid (if they didn't know already, that is - word spreads)
3. Given the SM ties in with the responsibilities of the post then I'd include (but I don't know how this is viewed in academia)
4. You've managed teams, that's their requirement. I think , generally, the assumption is if you've managed teams, you've line-managed people before that.

1. If you stayed where you are I assume very shortly you'd go up to band 9 anyway. I don't think it's a problem to skip one if you can do all the parts of the role advertised.
2. Just say you did these things over a 2 year period while the post was open/vacant. They can assume extended leave/illness/couldn't recruit due to the pandemic etc. Doesn't really matter why you did that additional role, just that you have all the experience from it.
3. I think it ties in nicely, I'd mention it. Maybe not make a huge deal of it and you can always expand in an interview if it's something they like the idea of.
4. Just focus on the management experience you have, they don't specify line management.

It sounds like this is the ideal job for you, if you meet all the essential criteria (sounds like you do) I don't think you'll need much help to get shortlisted. Good luck!

I don't have specific experience in the HE sector but what I would say is you clearly meet the majority of the requirements so you should go for it with confidence: you deserve that salary band.
It's well so reported that men will take a punt on a job ad when they literally have one or two of the listed criteria while women will often not apply unless they comprehensively meet ALL the requirements (which actually means the job isn't a developmental step for them anyway).
Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man and GO FOR IT ✊🏻

Thanks for the confidence! Argh, I want this job so badly... I think if I get shortlisted I will stand a good chance, as I have so much to say about our subject, challenges for the future and so on. I just need to sound insanely confident on my CV and letter... and that's not easy! Fingers crossed.