Ready for the Move Up

QUESTION:

My previous job title was Quality Control Leader. Along with this title came a lot of responsibilities, which I handled well. I had to leave this job because of a move. I’m now with a company that employees up to 700 people. The company is going through a lot of changes at this time, adding and moving people around within the company. The company is not using me to the best of my ability. I was put in the position of a floor inspector, I have the education and experience of a Quality leader. I would like to know how to ask my Boss to look at my resume so he will know what I’m capable of.

ANSWER:

You’re right. It’s definitely time to have a talk with your boss. Actually, it’s time to have some conversations with your boss about the work, your background, your enthusiasm about the job, and your desire to move into a more challenging and rewarding career.

Now, there’s the slow, subtle path where you work it into a conversation spread out over time. That takes a long time. The other thing is, with so much going on, he may miss the point.

The other way is to let him know that you have the experience and background to be of more service to the department and you’d like to be authorized to do so. That’s when you say something about, you know, my resume may be helpful in showing some examples of this. “I have a copy with me (I can email to you),” or whatever is an option for getting it to him soon.

Then point out the position(s) you held in the past that is very similar to what you propose to do. Discuss the ways in which it will make his life easier and provide more job satisfaction for you, especially since you have a firm grasp of how things are done at your present job, and how it will save the company money (or earn them more) while making the other workers happier. In other words, build up the positives of why your change would be a positive move.

Anticipate objections. Develop rational answers. If the arguments are valid but can be offset by positives, have the positives ready.

You do not want to have this conversation while your boss is in the middle of something that is pressing and taking up his attention. This needs to be a discussion you have where both of you are focused and free of distractions. However, the prelude to the meeting could be a comment about how you could help with a particular situation or be of more use. With his curiosity piqued, tell him you’d be more than glad to discuss it with him in 10 minutes, or whatever timing looks like it will fit. Agree on a time (one that’s not too far in the future) and be ready with whatever you need to support your proposition.

He’ll be glad that you’re able to come up with a positive solution to the work pressures and that you’ve already got the skills to make it happen.