Should I apply for my boss's promotion?

Question

I work in a very small digital products department as part of a larger organization. The department was formed two years ago. I have been at the organization for seven years and joined as a Product Manager from another department. My current boss was recruited into the organization as Senior Product Manager. She reports to the Head of Product, who currently also leads another department.

The exec team has decided to give the department a dedicated Head of Product. The current head will from now on just focus on her other department. The obvious candidate for the new Head of Product role is the Senior PM. But they can't just promote her; for technical reasons they have to advertise it, interview the candidates and then give it to her.

I have a good relationship with my boss and think she is definitely the right person for the job. However, I wonder if I should apply for the role.

The reasons not to are: I want my boss to take the role, not me, as she is much more qualified and would do it well; and the recruitment process is just a technicality, and it could be seen as time-wasting to apply for something that everyone, including myself, knows I won't get.

But the reasons to apply are: I'd get an opportunity to speak with senior figures in my organization; I could present myself as someone who is serious about this role and who is ambitious; and I'd get more practice at interviewing.

Would it be time-wasting to apply? Or is it an opportunity to increase my profile in the organization?

Answer 1

Would it be time-wasting to apply?

Yes - you say yourself you don't want the role and want your boss to have it.

Or is it an opportunity to increase my profile in the organization?

Yes, but not in a good way - either you make it clear that you never wanted the position anyway (in which case you'll rightfully be seen as a timewaster) or you'll look like you tried to compete for the role with your boss (who will still be your boss after they get promoted) and that might strain the relationship slightly.

Worse still what if you actually get the role? are you planning on turning it down (and you're back to being a timewaster) or are you going to commit to the lie and take it - in which case are you honestly going to be truly effective and happy in a role you never wanted in the first place?

Answer 2

But the reasons to apply are: I'd get an opportunity to speak with senior figures in my organization; I could present myself as someone who is serious about this role and who is ambitious; and I'd get more practice at interviewing.

The opportunity is still there.

Go to your boss and say: "I'm not going to apply for obvious reasons, but I would love to know what would be involved, and what it would take for the time when the opportunity arises again."

Answer 3

Would it be time-wasting to apply?

Yes.

3 simple reasons since you're applying within the company rather than outside.

You don't want the job and are extremely unlikely to get it.

Missing it makes you a failure which is never a good look. These people barely know you, the only thing that will stick in their mind is that you failed.

Your boss may take it badly that you competed against them.

Answer 4

Would it be time-wasting to apply?

This one is very hard to answer. It all depends on whether or not management is serious about looking at other candidates or are they just going through the motions to satisfy some HR or other requirements (legal too).

Or is it an opportunity to increase my profile in the organization?

If management is serious about talking to others, you then need to really ask your self -- do I want the position -- like for real?

If you do indeed decide to proceed, you have now announced that you are interested in expanding your role withing the company. This can be good and bad in that if there is no other realistic upward mobility for some time, you could then be seen as a employee who is at risk of moving on ( there is no upward mobility here, so if I want to move up I have to move on ).

It can also have a negative impact, should you apply, on your relationship with your current boss as they will now in some way see you as competition.

Wanting to be ambitious and move up is natural as part of your career progression. My advise to you is if you go for it, go whole heatedly and if this opportunity doesn't work out -- consider opportunities for growth elsewhere.

Answer 5

I would recommend if you wish to apply for the position then apply for the position. There are a few caveats you should acknowledge before applying such as:

• Speak to your current boss to say you wish to apply for the position and give them reasons why you wish to apply for the position
• Discuss with your manager your own personal goals (as you should periodically anyway)

At the end of the day, applying for roles is great for practising your interview skills, gaining further confidence in yourself, get known by upper management which all will help in your future career. Even if you know you're going to not get the position, you might be surprised or given the opportunity for another position within the company (such as the vacated Senior Produce Manager role).

I was asked to apply for a job before by my own manager to "gain interview skills" and ended up getting the job, moving teams and getting a salary increase. I went into the interview not necessarily wanting to take the job, but find out more about the team, the interview process and my own weaknesses and decided it would be a great fit for me.

Best of luck.