Promotion for new department

bobblebob

So i have the chance to apply for an internal promotion. The job advert admits this is a new department/team they're setting up so will be starting from scratch with no systems or procedures currently in place

The extra money would be nice and the idea of helping to set up a new team appeals, but equally it could turn into a mess if we are literally starting from the ground up

Anyone else ever been in a similar position and how did it go?

Marcon

bobblebob said:

So i have the chance to apply for an internal promotion. The job advert admits this is a new department/team they're setting up so will be starting from scratch with no systems or procedures currently in place

Interesting choice of word. Why 'admits'? Accurate information is hardly something to be ashamed of!

bobblebob said:

The extra money would be nice and the idea of helping to set up a new team appeals, but equally it could turn into a mess if we are literally starting from the ground up

How good are you at setting up systems and procedures? It'll be for the appointee to ensure it doesn't become a mess. Worth asking what sort of resources you'll get/how the decision taking process will work.

bobblebob

No reason for the choice of word. Itd public sector so they often dont give you the full picture

Ive never set anything up before, but often go into jobs and think "xyz could be improved", so be nice to be able to have that from the start

Ath_Wat

Bear in mind it is a lot easier it is to point out the one or two weak links in an existing system than to set up an entire system in the first place with only one or two weak links.

TELLIT01

Would you be going in to head up the team or as a team member?  How many people will be in the team?

bobblebob

Its a 7 person team. 5 staff, i would be the senior member above those and a manager above me

TELLIT01

2IC, 'Second in command' can be the ideal position and the worst position depending on the manager.  You can act as a sounding board for ideas from other team members, to filter out impractical ideas.  Equally, you can become the kicking boy if the manager wants to claim all the glory and put the blame on those below.  I've seen both scenarios play out.

bobblebob

Yea ive also seen in other departments the second in command becomes the dogs body of the manager, basically doing their tasks they dont want but should do.

TELLIT01

bobblebob said:

Yea ive also seen in other departments the second in command becomes the dogs body of the manager, basically doing their tasks they dont want but should do.

You got it in one. :-)  It isn't always like that, but at one place I worked a manager was moved from section to section on a regular basis because his deputies - in every section - complained to management about having all his work dumped on them.  As this was public sector, senior managers probably thought it would be too much hassle to actually get rid of him.

diystarter7

TELLIT01 said:

bobblebob said:

Yea ive also seen in other departments the second in command becomes the dogs body of the manager, basically doing their tasks they dont want but should do.

You got it in one. :-)  It isn't always like that, but at one place I worked a manager was moved from section to section on a regular basis because his deputies - in every section - complained to management about having all his work dumped on them.  As this was public sector, senior managers probably thought it would be too much hassle to actually get rid of him.

Seconded.
I've seen that happen a few times in public sector work.

The last place I worked at, there were procedures and processes for the team and another much easier one for mangers/seniors and their chums.

bobblebob

Yew witnessed this in my previous role. The 2nd in command got loads of work dumped on her above her paygrade by the manager. When that manager left and was replaced, those tasks got took off her as she should never have been allowed to do then

Luckily the new manager noticed and fixed it