Promotion opportunity - Unsure is I want it!

[kerry19834]

I have been in my current middle management job for around 3 years and I enjoy my job, but it is starting to get a little bit handle cranking as I have seen about eveything I can. My company has around 8000 employees so I am starting to think about what new ops there are.

My manager who is senior leadership is moving to a new role and she has said I should apply for her role as I am ready for an SLT job. I am very flattered. And a number of other people say I should apply too including a director.

There is no guarantee I would get her job, but I know I could do the job as I do a lot of it already and it would e an easy step up as I know enough about the role and the people. If I was to get a promotion in another area I would be buidling all that from sctartch.

The big kicker is I am not sure I want my bosses job, I like the idea of an SLT role (even though it is scary) , but I am loosing interest in the area, and there may be some really cool SLT jobs in other areas soon.

The only thing is they would be harder to get as I am not known.

Also in general jobs go to people who are that grade already.

If I was to apply for my bosses job i would be expected to do it for at least two years, and I am not sure if it would interest me enough. But I am torn as it would be easier to step up both in interview and in terms of the work. It would be worth about £10K a year before tax.

Interested to know what people would do.

Apply for the job, even though not fully interested in the role or wait for the more interesting roles to come through, but would have less chance getting it.

Apply, the interview process is valuable if nothing else.

Apply then move sideways

Yes as above - you've got a far better chance of moving sideways into a senior job, than up in an area you have less experience of.

Take this opportunity with both hands, gain experience and credibility as SLT and then look for a sideways move in a year or two once you've established yourself.

Apply, get it, prove yourself, move sideways or upwards

I was put in this position in the summer and regretted applying to please others. I deliberately fluffed the interview in the end and came close 2nd.

When I put aside the expectation of others I realised I don't intend to stay in the team much longer and an in team promotion tied me in for another 2 years which far exceeded my timescales. It also would have taken me away from work that's really valuable for my CV.

6 months on I know I made the right decision and I'm not trapped somewhere I really don't want to be.

A wise friend of mine said at the time "disappoint others before you disappoint yourself".