Want to apply but one missing criteria

[feemcgee]

Hi there, a promotion has come up at work and I really want to apply. I have all the criteria, apart from management experience, and the position would be managing a small team. Does anyone have any advice about how I talk my way around that?

Have you managed a project or something similar that shows the relevant skills? Alternatively, can you refer to feedback in your appraisals which indicates the sort of qualities which would make you a good manager? Those might be good starting points.

Have you done any mentoring or coaching? Dotted line management with a project? Things like that will showcase leadership skills.

Husband? Children? Pets? Own home?

All require management and people skills of the highest order!

Thanks so much, I have done mentoring, I didn't think about that!!!!

have you any other experience outside of work, volunteering, PTA, scouts, sports ?

And do proofread your application carefully.

Criterion (singular) vs criteria (plural).

How will you get the experience of managing people unless they give you the opportunity to gain the experience?

I'd apply anyway, and say how keen and ambitious you are, and that you'd be happy to do any number of management training courses to give you the skills to plug the gaps in your cv. Say you are a good team player, and that you feel ready for the next step up.

Go for it. What have you got to lose?

Think about what managing a team actually involves and then think about what experiences you have that map to that:

• mentoring as you've said above
• identifying/delivering training needs
• giving people feedback/coaching improvement
• difficult conversations
• mediating different personalities
• delegating
• managing workload
• analysis of KPIs/performance data

I strongly disagree with this advice.

Use workplace related examples, and consider the shift you'll have to make from an individual contributor to a team leader; plenty of people who know how to do the job get promoted to managing others who know how to do the job, and revert to micromanaging their team. This isn't what you want to be doing. You need to think about the wider lense, big picture view and how you'll use your team to achieve long-term goals for the organisation.

Do you manage any third-party agencies? Does the company you work for have good management training/management tools? Have you had a good manager who is well regarded in the business?

Without knowing the size and type of business you work for, it's difficult to give advice, but remember that really good companies want you to manage their way (so that the culture and values run through the organisation) - if they have the tools and training in place there's nothing stopping anyone becoming a manager.

If you've been coached by a good manager (helpful!) and the company have the tools in place, talk about the mentoring you've done, the way you've been mentored. The third parties/other stakeholders you 'manage' through project completion, and your willingness to learn.

Good luck :)