Applying for jobs above your Current role/qualifications.

Lanzacpaul on 01/08/2017 - 22:41
Last edited 02/08/2017 - 08:50 by 1 other user

Has anyone here been accepted into a job (at a new company), in a higher position than you're currently in.

Example: Been told by my company that there's little room to improve my position/title due to financial reasons (which I understand).

I've recently started applying for Managerial roles at other companies, even though my current position isn't a manager, I feel like I have all the necessary experience to fill the roles advertised, without directly ever having the title of manager.

Wondering if companies will look at my current job title and not even bother to read the rest, once they see that I'm not already a manager.

(Been considering asking the boss to change my title to Manager and keep the same pay, but I'm pretty sure it'll be obvious why I want to do it).

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  TheBilly on 01/08/2017 - 22:57

  +1

  Just apply, an interview will resolve whether you know your shiz or not and whether you are suitable. A title is just that, a title.

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  trustnoone on 01/08/2017 - 23:14

  +4

  Being a manager will obvious help a lot in getting a management position. But one thing I learned when I started being part of (and seeing the inside of ) some companies is that they will write a massive essay about how they are looking at getting a manager with a billion years experience, and knows x and y and etc etc. When they'll take almost anyone who applies that is willing to go for it, has communication skills and a basic understanding of the company.

  Obviously not always the case and you're typically in competition with others, but it taught me that even if the position is asking for all this stuff, go for it anyway, you'll do more harm for yourself if you apply for a job thats under your skills as opposed to one thats over I reckon. Especially as it sounds like you have a job to fall back on currently.

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  airzone on 01/08/2017 - 23:30

  +2

  Personally, I use an applicant's title as a guide, but it's only that. Different companies have different titles for the same jobs.

  However I know some people (most of whom I don't like) who see title as the mechanism of which they can shit on other people, and as such, the wording of the title is sacred.

  One interview question I had (from said people above) was to describe my position's place in the hierarchy in respect to the CEO. Bearing in mind that I was moving from a Fortune 50 to a small startup.

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  SydStrand on 01/08/2017 - 23:39

  +3

  President Donald J. Trump says yes.

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    ThithLord on 02/08/2017 - 09:50

    How so? The Prerequisites are: be naturally born in the USA (naturally is the old terminology - it basically means be born in the US), and be older than 35 years of age. What qualifications did he require, exactly? You know he isn't the first celebrity to become the President of the USA?

    • 

      ilikeradiohead on 02/08/2017 - 14:24

      Are you referring to Ronald Reagan? He was Governor of California before he became President.

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        ThithLord on 02/08/2017 - 16:18

        Okay.

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  ExtraSalt on 02/08/2017 - 07:16

  +1

  Don't doubt yourself homie! If you firmly believe you have the right attributes, then there is no reason why you shouldn't get the job. Good Luck!

  • 

    eve on 02/08/2017 - 07:55

    https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless…

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  iamw0man on 02/08/2017 - 08:29

  +2

  Most of the time you don't have to tick all the boxes, just more than the other candidates :)

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    sagrules on 02/08/2017 - 09:59

    Depends on the industry and current job market

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  bobbified on 02/08/2017 - 10:00

  +1

  Who's going to know if you change your current title to something that suits your current role more? Different companies use titles differently. If anything, it'll help them get past the title.

  And then you can list your responsibilities under the title - the hiring person can judge your suitability based on your current responsibilities instead of just your title.

  It took me a little bit of waiting around for the right opportunity to come around. While I had the responsibility of managing tasks including the people that came with those tasks, I never directly managed a team of people who reported to me. In my interview, the key point that I wanted to make was that it's more difficult to manage indirect reports than to manage direct reports.

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  bobbified on 02/08/2017 - 13:27

  +1

  Just out of curiousity, can you tell us about your current title and the title you're applying for?

  And whether you know the salary range of this "higher" role versus yours?

  Sometimes they have these tossy roles with the word "manager" in the title, but is actually a relatively junior role.

  Like, Case Manager, Claims Manager, etc.

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    anzacpaul on 02/08/2017 - 14:16

    The salary range is much higher than I'm on (25k higher), however I am in an underpaid position at the current time (industry/award i'm in).

    The new role is an assistant manager, however the position description is almost identical to the duties I currently undertake.

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      bobbified on 02/08/2017 - 14:42

      +1

      In that case, go for it!

      In your resume, in the responsibilities section, you can also use some of the key words that they use in their job description.

      Are you going to have a cover letter? You can use that to highlight anything that may not be so obvious from skimming through your resume. Put a short spiel in there about your current role and how it aligns with this role. But be careful not to ramble on about it too much. If they want detailed information, they can refer to your actual CV.

      Reminds me of my own situation not that long ago.

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  anzacpaul on 02/08/2017 - 14:16

  Thanks everyone for the feedback so far!!