I was recently offered a role I'd interviewed for, it's an entry level role in a function notoriously difficult to get into without any experience. It often sees graduates, with a degree in the subject, going for these circa 20k a year.
The interview went very well, I have a year's experience doing a similar role in a much larger company. It may even be a slight 'step down' as the job title is slightly more junior but I feel as though I was stagnating in my previous role. There was no opportunity to get involved with any other projects or anything that would have expanded my skill set and therefore no clear progression. For reference, the wider team at my previous employer was around 10-15, in the new company it is only a manager and a specialist (in an area different to what id like to progress in) in the team.
I'd like to be able to take the "next step up" per se, and was forthcoming with this at the interview, showing my eagerness to learn. I'm self funding the next level of training recognised by the industry which would hopefully get me to that level.
The hiring manager tried to steer me away from this level, stating that the one below would be more suited and that I would find the one I've enrolled on too challenging. She said this kindly. All providers I had spoken to had agreed that this was the correct level for me however due to having experience.
At interview, the hiring manager stated she was building the team up (she is relatively new to the company herself) and that she would see my role 'evolving' to the post higher within the next 6 months & she'd be bringing in another person at my current level during this time. She'd also stated she was looking for someone with less experience to mold and mentor/teach which has made this role more attractive to me as I'm hoping working within a smaller team may mean I'll have more opportunity to get involved.
She may well be telling me what I'd like to hear as she stated she'd like to be honest and that for the time being the main function of the role was to assist in a large administrative task. This is not an issue for me, I'm willing to put the work in but will need an employer that can support me in the qualification in terms of exposure to certain processes etc.
Does anyone have experience of this information being volunteered at the interview stage? Fwiw, it was advertised as a FTC but when offered she told me she'd like to offer it on a perm basis now.
If the opportunity is there, I'd do what I can to stand out but concerned it won't materialise at all. Has anyone got any tips on this please?
Apologies for the long read, thank you if you've made it to the end 