Internal only posts.

studentphil

Is it really possible to beat people who already do a job that is being filled internally if you come from a lower grade and do a different job?

Terrylw1

Yes. The fact that you are doing a certain job does not always indicate your level of experience or suitability for a position.

Otherwise, they would just award the person the job and not advertise it (although employers do advertise depsite a guarantee that no one else will get it!)

Zazen999

Hi
Anything is possible; if you impress the person looking to fill the vacancy and make them believe that you can do it better than the person they have in mind. The trick is knowing what they want?? And knowing who they have in mind.
Sometimes it is just matching what the manager is like; people tend to employ people just like them...

PasturesNew

It helps if you offer to sleep with somebody important.
Find out who will be doing the interviewing.

studentphil

I am not sure as I have lost some confidence as I keep getting turned down for lack of experience.

seven-day-weekend

studentphil wrote: »

Is it really possible to beat people who already do a job that is being filled internally if you come from a lower grade and do a different job?

Yes. A job I applied for was filled by an external person because he had more relevant experience than I had(note: not necessarily in exactly the same field).

I worked in Town Planning as an Enforcement Technician, he had worked for the Fraud squad of the DSS.

The job was for an Enforcement Officer.

He had far more experience of confrontational situations than I had. As a Technician I only dealt with straightforward cases. The Authority made the right appointment imho.

So, if you're thinking of applying for another job and there is a postholder going for it, just go for it anyway.

Good luck!

studentphil

I just think who will take me on who needs training and they don't? I have the ability to do the job and I am sure I can pick it all up really quickly the things I dont know. If you have 2 people who have already done the job and then me who hasn't then you can see I am the outside chance.

Zazen999

Ahah - but there is a difference between ability and potential...it is up to the manager to find out whether someone has the ability with training to be better at the job than those with the ability already there; so if you have the potential and the business can see that, then they cuold take a punt.

However, and there is alwasy a however; only that manager knows what else is going on in their part of the business; which is why you must write a CV for the job/business that you are entering as it is often transferrable skills that get you the job; so promote skills that you have that can be used, not just those for that job.

eg; someone needs technician; and 10 people apply with technician quals and experience. 4 are interviewed and 1 can do the job straight away but the other one will need a bit of training. The scond one however can type properly, design websites, and has been the treasurer of a club in their spare time. The manager knows that in the next 18 months, 2 of his admin people are pregnant and will be on maternity so he is having to ask his technicians to do additional admin from home to support the office, which includes typing, and handling small cheques which are brought back to the office from site to be banked. He is also having to put a page on the company website. So, having someone on board who would support the edditional admin, and has previous knowledge of handling money [and can then asist in writing procedures to deal with this], and who can be involved in the website will give you the added potential, which the other candidate doesn't have.

I know it sounds like that is a 'hope in hell' but think about the modern ways of doing things; and promote your additional skills that others might not think about - just add a short paragraph about additional skills can get you the interview and additionally get you the job.

Also, be positive; a keen person is worth their weight in gold and it is amazing how many people go to interview thinking the job is theirs; but someone who is keen to learn their ways, and develop with them and maximise efficiencies can wipe the floor with those that have been doing the job the same old way for years.

dmg24

It also depends on how flexible the recruitment policy is.

If the policy is quite rigid (often the case in the public sector, and larger companies), it is likely that a candidate will be marked against certain criteria. Having the potential to reach a certain standard may get you points, but someone with proven experience will obviously get more.

However, in a smaller organisation, they may consider the chance to train you as a positive attribute, as someone with experience is likely to have picked up bad habits along the way.

Go for it ... you've got nothing to lose x

studentphil

dmg24 wrote: »

It also depends on how flexible the recruitment policy is.

If the policy is quite rigid (often the case in the public sector, and larger companies), it is likely that a candidate will be marked against certain criteria. Having the potential to reach a certain standard may get you points, but someone with proven experience will obviously get more.

However, in a smaller organisation, they may consider the chance to train you as a positive attribute, as someone with experience is likely to have picked up bad habits along the way.

Go for it ... you've got nothing to lose x

I think the selection method is a rigid points system. I don't have anything to lose other than to be disheartened when I fail.

Zazen999

Hi
I am sorry, but I disagree with dmg. Having worked in management in both - the public sector is often on the lookout for people to come and shake things up a bit. Whereas the private sector is more used to these types of people purely because of the nature of the beast and often is loathe to induct and train; whereas public sector works slower and thus can do so.

But, above all; it always always depends on the manager; you won't know unless you try so just keep on; and always ask for honest feedback if you don't get the job as it can help you get the next one.