Networking and Job Searching

[shootingstar]

The position isn't posted yet - the guy that left it was sort of requested to leave(about 2 months ago). I'm doing alot of the duties of the manager's job, actually I'm the only one in the department that can perform the duties. So I'm already doing most of the job. But, I have an associate's degree - but 13 1/2 years in the department. Any advice on how to sell myself. The position isn't posted yet, I inquired about if it was going to be posted about a month ago and the director said to apply for it even though I don't have the degree. I'm doing a good job in the position I'm in. I need to get off worker's comp so I need a better position. What about making a suggestion to combine my position and the manager position. But I don't want things to backfire - so I have to do both without a pay increase. Any thoughts, recommendations, advice? Sorry this is so long.

Your facts don't quite jive if you say you are on worker's compensation...not working now? But still can do some of the work of the manager's role. Sorry for being inquistive if you don't want to respond.

I would not suggest combining your present job and manager's ...they may lower the job classification and pay scale.

Are you taking any courses to advance your skills related to a manager's role? ..it would be good..to demonstrate your seriousness of working in a manager's role. Would this role mean actually also managing other people who would report to you? Or is the job title reflective of program/functional coordination of the dept.

Would you have the responsibility in the role to set departmental goals and targets annually?

Being a worker and manager can be 2 different things....and others will figure it out if the department performs well or backslides.

I have held several management roles. When I switched to management, there IS a difference, especially when one has responsibility for a large budget, supervising other people and doing performance appraisals

[surgtech1956]

I am still considered worker's comp - partial comp - because I'm not making the salary that I was when I get hurt in this current position. I get paid by my employer plus a comp check(they are suppose to make up the difference - but its only 65%).

The new position is just 'manager' in name only, I heard rumor that the title might be changed because the guy that left the position wasn't supervising anyone and really didn't have any responsibilities relating to budget(this is a hospital). I'm a coordinator now for the office - 6 people.

No I haven't taken any classes - I thought I would do that if I was in the position - this way I would know what classes would be of most benefit - the job is inventory control/purchasing. I really miss doing my 'real' job, I see my doctor next month and was also hoping to go back to my 'real' job of a surgical technologist. (her recommendation was to have a sit-down job to preserve the life of my knee and keep me working as long as possible - I'm 51.

Thanks for responding. I worked as a surgical tech for 12 1/2 years - so I haven't had to do any type of networking, job searching, etc...

[tulip]

Surgtech, if at all possible, I would suggest taking a class in some sort of management. It would be great if that course could count towards a bachelors degree down the road, but that may not be necessary. Something to show that you are striving to continually improve your skills. Perhaps a certificate in management or something. There are online courses as well as community colleges that offer such classes at reasonable rates. Your employer may even have a tuition reimbursement program. This might not help with the current position you are seeking, but will put you in a better position for the future.

It's better to be proactive than reacting when something comes up. Be ready for it when it does.

That being said, I don't know your particular situation at work. But I've found that even with lots of experience, if the position calls for a certain level of education, it's difficult to get that position without that education (even if you do the job already!)

Even though I have two masters degrees, I still go for training and certification in specialized areas. I recently took a 3-day course that led to me being a Qualified Assisted Housing Manager. I develop affordable housing, and this certification not only taught me some things, but illustrates to my clients that I understand the management side as well as the development side (although I don't directly do the management side).

Now I'm going for a specialized environmental/sustainable design certification to put myself in a better position for future projects. It'll also help my networking.

[surgtech1956]

Thanks for the feedback tulip. I think you're right - I'm going to look into some classes. Thanks again.

[tulip]

Nancy,
I re-read your post, and if your supervisor said you should apply, then I think you definitely should. Stick with the class idea, too. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[froglegs]

I just jumped back in the market. I had an interview today, actually. I think it went pretty well. I have a pretty good job now, but among other significant reasons for wanting to leave, I am really sick of my ridiculously long commute and want to bike to work. The place I interviewed at today is 5 miles from my house (plus it seems really awesome).

However, now that I am officially looking (this interview came about somewhat unexpectedly) I think I need to tell my boss that I am planning on leaving sometime in the not-too-distant future. I want this to be as easy on my coworkers as possible.

[shootingstar]

I just jumped back in the market. I had an interview today, actually. I think it went pretty well. I have a pretty good job now, but among other significant reasons for wanting to leave, I am really sick of my ridiculously long commute and want to bike to work. The place I interviewed at today is 5 miles from my house (plus it seems really awesome).

However, now that I am officially looking (this interview came about somewhat unexpectedly) I think I need to tell my boss that I am planning on leaving sometime in the not-too-distant future. I want this to be as easy on my coworkers as possible.

Froglegs, you don't need to be that up front. It might backfire... instead don't you need the present employer as work reference? Well, then ask. Boss will get the hint. That's all that's needed.

I did that to my boss recently..no big surprise..I mean come on, this is a construction engineering project that he and I are in... (I believe, frogl, you are an engineer...). Still, he really didn't want to hear reality when several depts. are thinly staffed right now with people hopping over to other construction projects since the industry is hot in our province right now.

[froglegs]

Froglegs, you don't need to be that up front. It might backfire... instead don't you need the present employer as work reference? Well, then ask. Boss will get the hint. That's all that's needed.

I did that to my boss recently..no big surprise..I mean come on, this is a construction engineering project that he and I are in... (I believe, frogl, you are an engineer...). Still, he really didn't want to hear reality when several depts. are thinly staffed right now with people hopping over to other construction projects since the industry is hot in our province right now.

I work on a very specialized high tech product that takes months to learn, and right now we are very thinly staffed, so I would like to give them as much time as possible to find and train a replacement. Now that I have made the decision to leave, I can't really think of any reason not to tell them.

[Tuckervill]

Except they might shuffle you out the door before you're ready.

My husband had an employee come to him and say he was interviewing at a competitor, and he wanted the weekend to "think about it". My husband gave him all the time he needed--because he let the guy go on the spot. My husband couldn't risk his business interests by having a guy on the fence, and talking to the competition.

I would never tell unless I had a firm offer. But I'm selfish that way.

Karen

[tulip]

I work on a very specialized high tech product that takes months to learn, and right now we are very thinly staffed, so I would like to give them as much time as possible to find and train a replacement. Now that I have made the decision to leave, I can't really think of any reason not to tell them.

I agree with Tucker...unless you have a firm offer in hand, don't give notice. You might be left with nothing.

Best of luck in your endeavors!

[han-grrl]

I agree with the others on getting a more firm offer in hand.

Before i took this job (a week and a half to go!) I did have another job offer (verbal only). He said he would email me later that week. That turned into two weeks, and then...its as if he disappeared! He wouldn't return my emails or calls, in the mean time i still continued with interviews. Then i got the second offer...so i called the first company (to let them know that I needed to make a decision) and only heard back a week and half AFter I accepted my job offer that he still wants to hire me but this that and the other thing had happened (can we say RED FLAG!). I really wanted to work for this guy (at first), but then when all of that happened...no way!

So yes, before making the announcement, get something on paper first. Because even when something seems definite, things can change pretty quick.

[surgtech1956]

I don't know what the 'firing, letting an employee go' policy is in your states, but in Michigan an employer can fire an employee for no reason at all. My attorney told me that even if an employee is off on worker's comp they can be fired(of course the employer would still have to pay wc benefits).

I agree with not telling your boss till you have a firm offer.

[Tuckervill]

Another thing you can do is negotiate with the new employer for a later start date than you would give normally (more than 2 weeks, for instance). That way, with firm offer in hand, you can give your current employer time to retrain, reorganize and regroup with your help, but only for a limited time so you won't be strung along. They still may only want you there for 2 weeks or 2 minutes, though.

Karen

[surgtech1956]

I have an interview Monday morning. The position is Clinical Research Specialist with the Oncology Department. The only problem is that I realized that the position I applied is the part-time 48 hour bi-weekly, the 80 hour position is for a Bachelor's degree. The 80 hour position has been posted since March 2007. What this position pays vs what I'm getting paid in my current position(working 75 hours) - I would make the same $$$ working 48 hours. I want more than 48 hours. Would it be wrong to inquire if the position will become full time or inquire about the 80 hour position?

[tulip]

I have an interview Monday morning. The position is Clinical Research Specialist with the Oncology Department. The only problem is that I realized that the position I applied is the part-time 48 hour bi-weekly, the 80 hour position is for a Bachelor's degree. The 80 hour position has been posted since March 2007. What this position pays vs what I'm getting paid in my current position(working 75 hours) - I would make the same $$$ working 48 hours. I want more than 48 hours. Would it be wrong to inquire if the position will become full time or inquire about the 80 hour position?

I think it sounds reasonable to ask about that. Let us know how it goes!