Tempesta & Associates, Inc. - Getting A Better Job Without Changing Employers

Getting A Better Job Without Changing Employers

Staying with the same company yet obtaining a better job can be advantageous. There are three ways to achieve career goals without leaving your current employer; promotions, lateral transfers, or creating your next job.

Most people keep track of "internal postings" at their place of employment. At times they may even be approached for promotions or positions with different departments to advance their careers. Making internal moves yet gaining a better job has advantages over leaving the organization. The job change is less stressful since there are fewer transitions, benefit levels are maintained and the change is not as drastic.

With all of these advantages people still fail to prepare for this process fully and don't get what they want.

Applying and interviewing for internal moves must be treated as seriously as a new employer situation. Two key area that must be addressed are the resume and the interview. Don't assume that these are not important because you already work there and they know everything about you.

Prepare a new resume (the one on file could be years old or inappropriate for the position you're applying for). If you are seeking two different positions develop two different resumes; each unique to those positions. Content will be similar, but the emphasis will vary.

Find out from people already in that group or department what's really needed in the successful candidate. Obtain a job description of the position(s) to know what the job entails to match your skills and interests.

Find out from H.R. the compensation or grade level of the position to compare to your current salary level. Make sure that this will be a salary increase even if it is modest.

Thoroughly prepare for interviewing for the position. You will have an advantage because you already know the corporate culture and key players. However, you should still prepare for the face to face interview as if you were a new hire.

Meet with the hiring manager informally to find out what they're looking for to find the fit. Meet over coffee or lunch in neutral territory to get a good idea of what kind of person they are; is the "chemistry" there? Practice your interviewing skills to be in top form.

When you go in for the actual interview follow the same preparations as for a new hire: clothing, questions, paperwork, closing the interview, thank you notes and references. This is where people are apt to make their mistakes; they lose focus and become too casual. Just because you've been at your employer for X number of years doesn't mean that you are going to get that job automatically.

The third way to get the job that you really want is to "create" it. Are there certain departments that just seem to be better than others? Are there key projects that you enjoy and occur often enough to warrant full time attention? If you feel that you can justify a new position then develop your ideal job. Put as much effort into this process as you would any vital project ; after all it will directly effect your success.

Create your own job description, research compensation parameters based on company pay levels and present your plan to your supervisor. Be prepared to handle objections; it's a sales process. Have solutions and hard facts to back up your ideas. Many smaller companies will be receptive to this since it helps them keep their best employees and everybody wins.

Be on your best behavior, these are real interviews; not social gatherings. If the match is right for both parties you will get the offer, plus move your career in the direction that you want.

Tempesta & Associates, Inc.
6525 North Green Bay Road
Milwaukee, WI 53209

414-967-9250