Catch-22 – How do you get the experience required for the job you want? “I want to get a promotion but I need different experience than what I am getting now.” Is that you?
I was a practicing Geophysicist, knee deep in 3D seismic data, most days I felt like my best friend was Kingdom Suite or Petrel (the software I used). But I wanted to be a manager. There were a few issues with that, managers required experience managing people and managing budgets. I didn’t have any of that. I talked it over with my mentor.
Me: There is a job posting but I don’t have the requirements.
My Mentor: What is stopping you from getting them?
Me: I don’t have them in the scope of my current job and there is no way to get it. In the interview I will get asked:
Do you have experience leading people who do not report directly to you? NO.
Have you ever managed a budget? NO
Have you ever organized an event? NO
My Mentor: There are more ways than one to gain experience. A lot of my experience came from my volunteer work. I learned how to work with people, manage budgets, and develop in areas that my job wouldn’t have afforded me.
Me: So I need to volunteer.
My Mentor: Not just volunteer, it has to be something that will lead to your development. It must be something that you can give your talents to but also expand your scope of responsibility and exposure. Most employers say they want experience, but really they just need confidence that you have had enough experience in something that you can handle the new role.
This direction was all I needed. I was on the hunt for a volunteer opportunitythat I could have an impact on and grow with.
When my eyes opened to this idea, I immediately saw an opportunity.
I was at a choral concert listening to my favorite choir. As it happened, I was sitting next to a CBC radio producer. After the concert, I spoke to a friend in the choir and said it is awesome that your choir is being scouted by CBC. They had no idea there was a producer in the audience. I thought that was a missed opportunity and voiced it. They asked me to join their board of directors (not the choral choir just to be clear).
I jumped at the chance, and gave it everything I had. We went from a financially struggling choir at $1,800/year to $20,000 in 5 years and we did 2 international competitions.
Questions at my next interview:
Do you have experience leading people who do not report directly to you? YES.
Have you ever managed a budget? YES.
Have you ever organized an event? YES.
Change your NO’s into YES’s. I worked my way up, and I went on to manage sales of $200 Million annually.
Carol
