wait it out or make a move? WWYD?

[Deleted]

So I'm coming up on 4 years in September in my position. It's an entry level position that I "mastered" within the first year, so I'm kinda bored. My boss keeps saying she knows I'm capable of better. This year she said she hopes to have "something better" for me in the near future. It was pretty vague. I LOVE my boss and I like my group, so I told myself to stay put until I hit 5 years - and then I'll start looking around for something better.

Well I found that we're apparently hiring for another person for the position that I do. This really rubs me the wrong way as I do not see the need for yet another full-time person (we just hired a temp as a FT employee a few months ago). Meanwhile, an analyst position in another logistics group opened up a few weeks ago and I'm making a mental note to ask the hiring manager about it. I also saw a new opening in corporate purchasing that I may be qualified for. I'd like to get into purchasing/buying (more responsibilities, more $$$) or planning/forecasting. If I apply for either of these positions, my boss has to be notified.

So what should I do - wait it out, or apply now?

[973beachbum]

I'd apply. What is the worst they can do but say no?

[midjd]

I'd talk to your boss first, just to give her a heads-up/last-ditch chance to offer something, and then apply for both jobs.

[taz157]

Jun 18, 2012 9:55:41 GMT -5 midjd said:

I'd talk to your boss first, just to give her a heads-up/last-ditch chance to offer something, and then apply for both jobs.

Good luck!

[steph08]

Jun 18, 2012 9:56:44 GMT -5 taz157 said:

Jun 18, 2012 9:55:41 GMT -5 midjd said:

I'd talk to your boss first, just to give her a heads-up/last-ditch chance to offer something, and then apply for both jobs.

Good luck!

That is what I would do too.

I am sort of in the same position. I have been with my company for five years and had one lateral move. Last year my manager told me I was due for a promotion next year (now) so I am waiting it out. My review is next month and if I am not promoted, I am seriously going to start looking, even if I do have to pay $4k back in tuition reimbursement. I keep asking for more responsibility/more work, but they won't give me any.

[Deleted]

I agree with the others. Let your boss know, but apply for the others.

And I'll sahre something I just heard from our head of HR (large company, European HQ). They opened up a lot of new positions in an expanding area at a very high level and all the applicants were male. This was a real concern, so they identified some high-potential women and suggested that they apply. The resulting hires were 40% female. When asked why the women hadn't applied in the first place, he said that in general, guys will apply if they think they can do 75% of the job description. Women won't apply unless they think they can do 95% of it. So, definitely make the stretch. It's always good to practice interviewing and also broaden your network within the company.

[TheOtherMe]

Jun 18, 2012 9:55:41 GMT -5 midjd said:

I'd talk to your boss first, just to give her a heads-up/last-ditch chance to offer something, and then apply for both jobs.

Good luck.

[Deleted]

Sounds like your boss is too hands off on your career development. Mine is the same way. I compensate by driving my own career hard. I make sure she know all the moves though.

[swamp]

I"d tell the boss "I'm bored, I want more responsibility and more challenges" and then apply.

ETA: I did that when I was an asst. DA. Because of county policy, I couldn't get a raise, but I got lots more responsibility, a higher case load, and was put in charge of a certain type of felony prosecutions.

[Deleted]

thanks for the feedback everyone.

I was just about to send an email to the hiring manager for the analyst position and I decided to look at the job requirements again. I don't meet one of the basic requirements and it's a stretch to say that I meet most of the preferred qualities. So I closed that email out. It's one thing to be deficient in one area, but it's another to be deficient in multiple areas. I know that I can learn whatever I need to in order to do my job, but they may not want to train anyone in using Access, etc.

I will talk to my boss tomorrow about the new job posting for our group as well as the purchasing position I want to apply for (I meet most all the requirements for that one).

[muttleynfelix]

Jenny - Is there a course on Access or some online training you can do in between applying and possibly interviewing? I wouldn't let a computer program keep me from applying for a job I wanted.

[Deleted]

they want someone who's an expert in Excel and Access. I am a basic user of Excel and I have never used Access. I may still ask him how important this is and if they'd be willing to train the right candidate. Truthfully, I'd MUCH rather investigate that purchasing position. The analyst job - while probably a small step up for me - would be lots of report analyzing and numbers. Bleh. I'll have to mull it over some more.

ETA: work does hold classes in applications, but they don't have any for Access - only Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

[Phoenix84]

To me, deciding you'll wait X years and then look for a better opportunity is foolish. If you want another opportunity, go for it. I wasn't happy in my entry level job either, and I was only there for 1.5 years. I wasn't happy in my followup job either, so I left after 1.5 years as well. Third time is a charm, and I"ll likely be here for a little while, but even now I'm considering my next move (after I finish grad school).

Don't limit yourself with arbitrary time limits.

As far as learning new computer skills, most community colleges offer classes on any topics you'd like to know more about.

[swamp]

Jun 18, 2012 16:16:20 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

To me, deciding you'll wait X years and then look for a better opportunity is foolish. If you want another opportunity, go for it. I wasn't happy in my entry level job either, and I was only there for 1.5 years. I wasn't happy in my followup job either, so I left after 1.5 years as well. Third time is a charm, and I"ll likely be here for a little while, but even now I'm considering my next move (after I finish grad school).

Don't limit yourself with arbitrary time limits.

As far as learning new computer skills, most community colleges offer classes on any topics you'd like to know more about.

when I was hired as an Asst. DA, I told my boss I would stay 4 years. At 3 years, a job as the Chief Public Defender opened up. I thought there was no way in hell I would ever get the job, but I'd try applying just to let people know I was interested in moving up.

I told my boss and he wished me well and said I wouldn't get the job.

I got the job, so after 3 and a half years, I moved on. Frankly, I think they were crazy to hire me, but whatever, they did. I told the county I'd stay 3 years.

After one year as the Public Defender, I was offered a job in a well respected private firm because a partner was retiring. If I didn't take it, my partner would have found someone else. He was willing to wait until I had 5 years with municipal employment so my state retirement vested.

I left the county employment 1.5 years after being hired as the Public Defender.

Had I stayed the time periods I said I would, I would have missed on on some awesome opportunities.

[Sum Dum Gai]

I was just about to send an email to the hiring manager for the analyst position and I decided to look at the job requirements again. I don't meet one of the basic requirements and it's a stretch to say that I meet most of the preferred qualities. So I closed that email out. It's one thing to be deficient in one area, but it's another to be deficient in multiple areas. I know that I can learn whatever I need to in order to do my job, but they may not want to train anyone in using Access, etc.

What??? It's a fairly straight forward computer program. And when a job listing says they want an "expert" user of a program what they really mean is somebody who understands it's basic functions. Almost nobody actually uses all the crap they include with MS products these days. Apply for the position, and hit up a Barnes & Noble on your way home tonight to get a book on Access. You'll be fine.

ETA - Side note here, and maybe this should go in FB's gender bias thread, but the above is in my opinion one of the reasons we have a persistent pay gap between men and women. It seems to me that I meet more men who see job descriptions as a wish list and they'll apply even if they don't technically meet everything on there. I seem to meet more women who view job descriptions as a list of minimum requirements and they won't apply unless they meet them all. Don't be that woman. I'm not saying to lie during interviews, but an answer like, "I'm currently studying on my own time to master Access and don't think it'll be too large of a hurdle for me to overcome in this position," is totally fine.

[hoops902]

::I was just about to send an email to the hiring manager for the analyst position and I decided to look at the job requirements again. I don't meet one of the basic requirements and it's a stretch to say that I meet most of the preferred qualities. So I closed that email out. It's one thing to be deficient in one area, but it's another to be deficient in multiple areas. I know that I can learn whatever I need to in order to do my job, but they may not want to train anyone in using Access, etc. ::

I agree with Dark. No one's telling you to lie about your qualifications. Apply for the job, be honest about your skillset and your willingness to learn. At worst they're going to not bother interviewing you, and you've lost nothing.

"This is a requirement" really means "it'd be great if you had this", "this would be nice" is code for "you're going to need to learn this, don't say we didn't warn you".

If you actually qualify for a position based on the description, you're probably overqualified. Take a chance, the worst they can say is no.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't let Access be the barrier. If you can use other Microsoft products, you can work in Access. 98% of what people do in Access is work within an existing database, which is pretty easy. Data entry, simple queries and reports. The other 2% is designing the databases. Pretty much everybody pulls out the manual to do that part.

And a 4 year track record can overcome a lot of "on paper" deficiencies.

Go for it!

[wvugurl26]

I agree with the others have said about Access. I would think the company has their reports already set up. Adding new records to an existing database isn't hard.

We have an online database of self study courses. I took an entry level Access course at a training center and it really didn't teach me anything new.

[Deleted]

Tell your boss and apply for both jobs!

Even if you don't get them, it let others know that you are interested on moving up the ladder.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2012 16:41:49 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

ETA - Side note here, and maybe this should go in FB's gender bias thread, but the above is in my opinion one of the reasons we have a persistent pay gap between men and women. It seems to me that I meet more men who see job descriptions as a wish list and they'll apply even if they don't technically meet everything on there. I seem to meet more women who view job descriptions as a list of minimum requirements and they won't apply unless they meet them all. Don't be that woman.

Yep. Just what the HR guy said they were seeing in my company.

And I learned Access on my own as I went along. Get yourself a copy of "Access for Dummies"- I love the "Dummies" series because they have a sense of humor and they assume no pre-knowledge.

[swamp]

Jun 18, 2012 18:47:42 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Tell your boss and apply for both jobs!

Even if you don't get them, it let others know that you are interested on moving up the ladder.

The worst that happens is they say no. So what?

[Phoenix84]

"I was just about to send an email to the hiring manager for the analyst position and I decided to look at the job requirements again. I don't meet one of the basic requirements and it's a stretch to say that I meet most of the preferred qualities. So I closed that email out. It's one thing to be deficient in one area, but it's another to be deficient in multiple areas. I know that I can learn whatever I need to in order to do my job, but they may not want to train anyone in using Access, etc."

MoneyJenny, I'll be honest with you. You're a smart cookie, I can tell by your posts here. I was able to learn access as a high school student, so I think you'll easily learn it. There's no reason why you can't learn access. It's really not that hard, pick up a book out there on it.

Dark is right, this is a big reason women don't move up as men or get paid as much men. You need to be more aggressive in pursing opportunities and raises.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2012 19:00:57 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Jun 18, 2012 16:41:49 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

ETA - Side note here, and maybe this should go in FB's gender bias thread, but the above is in my opinion one of the reasons we have a persistent pay gap between men and women. It seems to me that I meet more men who see job descriptions as a wish list and they'll apply even if they don't technically meet everything on there. I seem to meet more women who view job descriptions as a list of minimum requirements and they won't apply unless they meet them all. Don't be that woman.

Yep. Just what the HR guy said they were seeing in my company.

And that would describe my wife to a T.
I sent her a list of job to apply for but she keeps on not applying for them because she doesn't meet all the job requirements.

My current job? I only met 1 out of the 12 requirements required which was the college degree preferred lol but that did not stop me from applying and getting it.

[midjd]

MoneyJenny, I'll be honest with you. You're a smart cookie, I can tell by your posts here. I was able to learn access as a high school student, so I think you'll easily learn it. There's no reason why you can't learn access. It's really not that hard, pick up a book out there on it.

Dark is right, this is a big reason women don't move up as men or get paid as much men. You need to be more aggressive in pursing opportunities and raises.

Youuuuuu can do it!!!

[midjd]

I've participated in the hiring of a few dozen contractors and the ones who are the best on paper are almost never the ones who are finally hired. You're a quick learner, and every job has a learning curve. (You start to worry when your new hires AREN'T asking any questions!) Don't let a computer program stand in your way.

And like others have said, sometimes you need to apply for a job you know you won't get, just to send the message you're ready to move up.

[taz157]

Jun 18, 2012 20:52:31 GMT -5 Nazgul Girl said:

Here ya go: a tutorial on how to use Access !! Now get that effin' promotion and go make some money !!!!

www.functionx.com/access/

Even though I didn't ask for it, thanks for the Access tutorial Nasgul! I took a college course in Access, such as how to build the system then use it, and I really liked it! However, I hadn't the need for it since then, but I figure once I get comfortable with it, I may be able to figure out a way to us it.

[Deleted]

Jenny - I'd hire & put some training $s into a great known employee before I'd go out to 'buy the skills' on the market. Especially something like Access or Excel where I could send you to a couple days outside training to get you up to speed quickly.

Do NOT count yourself out for either job. Do give your manager the courtesy of letting her know that you are ready to do more & that you plan on applying for internal positions because you LOVE the company.

Analyst or Planner roles will have better job longevity in the US, but if purchasing is a stop along the way to those roles, it just enhances your knowledge base.

Good Luck!!!

[Deleted]

Thanks again for the advice and encouragement everyone. It's a case of "I know what I need to do, but I'm afraid to do it." I am getting comfortable. My group is like a big family and we all get along great for the most part. My boss is very sweet, helpful, and understanding. I'm afraid that I won't find another boss or group like this one. My logical side is trying to remind me that being comfortable will not get me to retirement at 60, so I need to get a move on.

[Waffle]

Good luck Jen. This is sooo weird, you're trying to get into purchasing and I'm trying to get out of it. ;D

Caiwau - one out of 12! I would never do that. I've been in the workforce almost as long as some of you pups have been alive and I'm sad to say I just recently realized that you don't have to meet every qualification to apply for a job. It's actually something I sort of instinctually did once years ago, but then somehow I forgot that lesson.

[Deleted]

As Young MC used to say....