Just started new role - another one advertised I want
Discussion
I'm looking for some advice on a slightly tricky situation at work. The background is fairly detailed but the current situation won't make sense without it.
Up until Feb this year I was in a role that was product focused. It involved making sure my team did everything required to get locally manufactured product to market and as part of that I got to be involved in both the current and next generation product. I was able to make suggestions on product issues and have real input. As part of that for 5 months last year I got seconded to Program Management for future product and got involved in actually specifying what we wanted, how to price it, comparing it to competitors etc. For something we don't start selling until 2018.
All really interesting and enjoyable stuff - I love being directly involved in product that the public don't get to see for anything between 2 and 5 years.
Late last year things changed - we decided to stop manufacturing locally in 3 years time, so my role became significantly smaller because there was basically no future product to be made locally. The organisation will downsize dramatically over the next 3 years and we have no idea what my current dept will look like other than some areas will disappear completely and some could have between 1 or 10 people.
About Jan this year a Marketing role was advertised. This role sets pricing, line-up etc for both current and future product that we sell in this market so interfaces with Program Management. I didn't apply as I have no marketing experience. However, after it closed I was approached by the Department Manager and asked if I was interested - basically no-one suitable had applied and I'd been suggested by the manager, and the Director, from Program management. I said I didn't have any marketing experience so didn't apply only to be told that "some people take that stuff too literally". I was spoken to on the Friday, updated my CV over the weekend only to find out on the Monday they'd given it to someone from another division (a "tell" by the Executive Director who had worked in that division previously).
In Feb I got moved to a role that I was essentially over qualified for, but am more than capable of doing, and doing well. Someone left and they need to fill it quickly with someone capable and I was both spare and capable. However one issue with it was that despite being management level I wasn't given the manager role for political reasons. Mid-year I moaned about it but was told there was nothing they could do. I also applied for a couple of external vacancies and it became apparent that not having people management experience was a gap in my CV. So I asked again - still nothing.
On the 10th of October the equivalent marketing role to the one advertised in Jan but for different product was advertised internally. Closing date this Friday (24th). I thought about applying but didn't do anything straight away.
On Tuesday last week (14th) I was asked if I'd be interested in a manager role in my current department - has a team of 10 and is operational focus - 2 gaps worth filling in on my CV. I said yes, I would be interested. During the discussion I did tell my boss that I was interested in the marketing role.
On Thursday (16th) I was told I'd got the role in my current dept - starting Monday (20th). It will be interesting and challenging, however not necessarily what I want to do long term. Useful to have on the CV if I get made redundant in 3 years time though.
However, I can't stop thinking about the Marketing role and I'm still interested in applying for it but don't want to p
s off my new boss.
I should say the marketing role is a long shot and that I'd be using reputation and general ability as leverage rather than experience (at least for half of the role).
Also, I need management approval to apply for an internal vacancy and they can withhold it for operational reasons (I've never heard of that happening though - they let you apply and then just make it difficult if you get offered it by saying they need you for 6 months when asked about it by the dept with the vacancy).
Both roles are likely to exist after we downsize, possibly (no one really knows).
After all that, here is the question:
Do I:
1) keep doing the role I've just started to fill in the gap on my CV even although it isn't product focused and therefore not what I really want to do long term? I could wait and see if similar marketing roles are advertised within the next 3 years, but the further away I get from my direct product experience the harder it will be to use it as being relevant.
2) have the difficult chat with my new boss on the basis that if they hadn't given me this role I'd have applied for the Marketing job, and if they advertised that role in 2 or 3 months time I'd want to apply? I'd use the logic that I'd have been daft to say no to the role I've just started on the basis I intended to apply for a job I want but may not get.
In general management are pretty supportive of moves etc because of the situation we are in. My previous boss (the one I stopped working for on Friday last week) has probably caused himself a load of problems because we were already short staffed (I'd asked for help) and he has only been able to get a part time replacement. They are aware they need to help people build up their CVs because of the downsizing.
Oh, and because someone is likely to ask - the product is cars.
Thanks for reading. Any suggestions?
Up until Feb this year I was in a role that was product focused. It involved making sure my team did everything required to get locally manufactured product to market and as part of that I got to be involved in both the current and next generation product. I was able to make suggestions on product issues and have real input. As part of that for 5 months last year I got seconded to Program Management for future product and got involved in actually specifying what we wanted, how to price it, comparing it to competitors etc. For something we don't start selling until 2018.
All really interesting and enjoyable stuff - I love being directly involved in product that the public don't get to see for anything between 2 and 5 years.
Late last year things changed - we decided to stop manufacturing locally in 3 years time, so my role became significantly smaller because there was basically no future product to be made locally. The organisation will downsize dramatically over the next 3 years and we have no idea what my current dept will look like other than some areas will disappear completely and some could have between 1 or 10 people.
About Jan this year a Marketing role was advertised. This role sets pricing, line-up etc for both current and future product that we sell in this market so interfaces with Program Management. I didn't apply as I have no marketing experience. However, after it closed I was approached by the Department Manager and asked if I was interested - basically no-one suitable had applied and I'd been suggested by the manager, and the Director, from Program management. I said I didn't have any marketing experience so didn't apply only to be told that "some people take that stuff too literally". I was spoken to on the Friday, updated my CV over the weekend only to find out on the Monday they'd given it to someone from another division (a "tell" by the Executive Director who had worked in that division previously).
In Feb I got moved to a role that I was essentially over qualified for, but am more than capable of doing, and doing well. Someone left and they need to fill it quickly with someone capable and I was both spare and capable. However one issue with it was that despite being management level I wasn't given the manager role for political reasons. Mid-year I moaned about it but was told there was nothing they could do. I also applied for a couple of external vacancies and it became apparent that not having people management experience was a gap in my CV. So I asked again - still nothing.
On the 10th of October the equivalent marketing role to the one advertised in Jan but for different product was advertised internally. Closing date this Friday (24th). I thought about applying but didn't do anything straight away.
On Tuesday last week (14th) I was asked if I'd be interested in a manager role in my current department - has a team of 10 and is operational focus - 2 gaps worth filling in on my CV. I said yes, I would be interested. During the discussion I did tell my boss that I was interested in the marketing role.
On Thursday (16th) I was told I'd got the role in my current dept - starting Monday (20th). It will be interesting and challenging, however not necessarily what I want to do long term. Useful to have on the CV if I get made redundant in 3 years time though.
However, I can't stop thinking about the Marketing role and I'm still interested in applying for it but don't want to p
s off my new boss.I should say the marketing role is a long shot and that I'd be using reputation and general ability as leverage rather than experience (at least for half of the role).
Also, I need management approval to apply for an internal vacancy and they can withhold it for operational reasons (I've never heard of that happening though - they let you apply and then just make it difficult if you get offered it by saying they need you for 6 months when asked about it by the dept with the vacancy).
Both roles are likely to exist after we downsize, possibly (no one really knows).
After all that, here is the question:
Do I:
1) keep doing the role I've just started to fill in the gap on my CV even although it isn't product focused and therefore not what I really want to do long term? I could wait and see if similar marketing roles are advertised within the next 3 years, but the further away I get from my direct product experience the harder it will be to use it as being relevant.
2) have the difficult chat with my new boss on the basis that if they hadn't given me this role I'd have applied for the Marketing job, and if they advertised that role in 2 or 3 months time I'd want to apply? I'd use the logic that I'd have been daft to say no to the role I've just started on the basis I intended to apply for a job I want but may not get.
In general management are pretty supportive of moves etc because of the situation we are in. My previous boss (the one I stopped working for on Friday last week) has probably caused himself a load of problems because we were already short staffed (I'd asked for help) and he has only been able to get a part time replacement. They are aware they need to help people build up their CVs because of the downsizing.
Oh, and because someone is likely to ask - the product is cars.
Thanks for reading. Any suggestions?
Once you made a decision, stick with it. Make the most of it, do your best and start looking again in 2/3 years unless pushed. Dithering and chopping and changing can tell your superiors more about you than them. Show commitment and loyalty, two valuable traits in anyone. Is what I would do in similar circumstances. Good luck!
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff