I'm being considered to move into my boss's role as Reliability & QA Manager/Doc Service Manager, as he is nearing retirement. He manages the audit program and serves as Management Representative for quality, safety and environmental management system certs.

I've been asked to describe why I am suitable for his role.

Now I am seldom at a loss for words, and I do have some good bullets for this little resume, so to speak. However, I buy into the concept that sometimes other people know us better than we know ourselves.

So I wanted to throw the question out to the Forum and see what you good people think. No need to stoke ego, and please do not worry that I will take offense to criticism. Now is actually a good time for it, in fact, since I can already map out a couple of things I'd like to accomplish to help out with this kind of work.

Thank you in advance for whatever you have to offer!

I think you are more than qualified for that position. The only adjustment you may need is to learn to look at things from both the quality department and managements perspective.

It's a natural progression that you deserved!

Although I certainly can't buy into the idea that other people may know us better than we know ourselves, I will concede that oftentimes other people can offer us an enlightening perspective.

Now, as to your question, I can certainly say that you display many qualities which fit well in the Quality Manager/Rep role, i.e. you're intelligent, resourceful, a good communicator(writer), experienced within the field...but all this basically boils down to is buzzwords on a resume.

I think, that if you're being nudged towards a position within your company then it's obvious that you've already established your capability in the role. I think the key is to highlight your inherent qualities, your accomplishments, and then establish what more you will bring to the position.

:cfingers: Hope you get the position, it's well deserved and quite suited to you I think.

Jennifer, as you move up the ladder, there is one thing that will not only serve you well, but should also make you very effective.

You have more knowledge than most, which is nice, as far as it goes. But, you are not only willing to share your knowledge and experience, you are particularly very, very good at sharing it. Your teaching experience helps here, I think.

Why not make that point, and provide a link to our Reading Room? Game, set, and match, you win hands down. As smart as you are, making the people around you smart is the wise way for a manager to go. It becomes a win-win situation. There are some managers who do not care about growing their folks, to the detriment of all involved. I would think you would be the exact opposite of this, making you quite effective in your new role.

After reading many of your posts, I can't imagine any job in quality that you wouldn't be qualified for.

Doug

Jennifer, from your contributions here, it is pretty clear that you have the knowledge, intelligence, maturity and drive for the position. The only question I would have for you is: can you stand the "politicking" that normally is associated with a higher grade job? While many promotions are a blessing, some are a curse. As long you feel you can stomach the added pressure and the "politics" that will come along, go for it. Because, you, as an agent of positive change will be able to impact more lives.

Best of luck to you. You deserve it.:agree1:

First, I would think you would do great at the job. Your actions on the Cove are not unlike yours in real life, and I have always admired your knowledge and interaction here.

Two of your attributes that I have always admired is you seem to be quite non-confrontational, and provide patient, well-thought out responses.

I think those are two attributes which would contribute to your management success. You have always seemed to be a team-builder and not so interested in grabbing the lights for yourself.

Honestly, if I had noticed any negatives, I would point them out. Maybe... you'll have to get a bit more assertive in your new job. But, you may already have that characteristic, and you have not had to display it here.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

I am not nearly as well qualified to comment on your specific qualities as many others at the Cove who have 'known' you longer than I but I have a general comment in this situation.

If modesty allows, most of us know our strengths reasonably well - but, do we know our weaknesses? I was once asked during an interview to describe the areas where I was least suitable for the role. Trying to think of these - without making me look useless - at the time of the interview was not easy. So maybe that could be a thought process for you - by the way, good luck and don't undersell yourself.

Jenifer, we will all agree that you are more than qualified to do the job. As to why? Seriously, sit down and list some of the articles you have written, programming/spreadsheets you have implemented, all of those things you have done that have made your job work more effeciently and effectively, your company run more effectively and saved the company money etc. You need to show where hiring you above someone else will be a bottom line improvement. As stated earlier, the hard part is the "political" aspects. Make sure they know how much you have already contributed. Your knowledge and grasp will be hard for anyone else to beat. Good luck.

My simple response would be "because you care"

Others might apply simply to have a job - you actually (seem to) care about doing the best job possible. You ask appropriate questions to get the best answers possible for the Covers who post here.

Regular readers know that you won't just 'wing' a half-baked answer - you genuinely try to help. That would be an aspect of your personality that you could use to your advantage.

Good sense of humor
Excellent writing skills
Calm demeanor

Jennifer, from your contributions here, it is pretty clear that you have the knowledge, intelligence, maturity and drive for the position. The only question I would have for you is: can you stand the "politicking" that normally is associated with a higher grade job? While many promotions are a blessing, some are a curse. As long you feel you can stomach the added pressure and the "politics" that will come along, go for it. Because, you, as an agent of positive change will be able to impact more lives.

Best of luck to you. You deserve it.:agree1:


Very well put. I concur with each statement, Sidney made. There is an online article about accepting middle management positions on aol.com home page today.

...

I've been asked to describe why I am suitable for his role.

.... Now is actually a good time for it, in fact, since I can already map out a couple of things I'd like to accomplish to help out with this kind of work.




Your own answer begins to answer why you are suitable for this position (if you want it). You are already taking ownership of it, as you have in past positions.

Jennifer, from your contributions here, it is pretty clear that you have the knowledge, intelligence, maturity and drive for the position. The only question I would have for you is: can you stand the "politicking" that normally is associated with a higher grade job? While many promotions are a blessing, some are a curse. As long you feel you can stomach the added pressure and the "politics" that will come along, go for it. Because, you, as an agent of positive change will be able to impact more lives.

Best of luck to you. You deserve it.:agree1:

I concur on all points. Personally, I've declined multiple opportunities to rise beyond middle management simply because the amount of money involved was never worth what I felt I would have to sacrifice for it. In the end, I always felt that it's best to find the level where one's effectiveness is maximized. Perhaps in so doing I avoided becoming yet another victim of the Peter Principle, but I never regretted the path I chose.

I'm being considered to move into my boss's role as Reliability & QA Manager/Doc Service Manager, as he is nearing retirement. He manages the audit program and serves as Management Representative for quality, safety and environmental management system certs.

I've been asked to describe why I am suitable for his role.

Now I am seldom at a loss for words, and I do have some good bullets for this little resume, so to speak. However, I buy into the concept that sometimes other people know us better than we know ourselves.

So I wanted to throw the question out to the Forum and see what you good people think. No need to stoke ego, and please do not worry that I will take offense to criticism. Now is actually a good time for it, in fact, since I can already map out a couple of things I'd like to accomplish to help out with this kind of work.

Thank you in advance for whatever you have to offer!


Hi Jennifer,

Suitable for this role?

Passion and Competence. You have both.

Stijloor.

Dear Jennifer,

If you're not crying after reading the views of your fellow covers, then you have no emotion, and would be most suitable as a senior manager.

BUT, seriously, you are obviously an efficient and effective senior manager who keeps ahead of the game by constantly reviewing all the latest quality manegement tools and techniques for their suitability to improve the business.

Well, golly. I am overwhelmed.

Coury, if I was feeling low today I'd be puddling for sure. :crybaby: Really, I am warmed by these responses.

And the bit about the politicking is very true. I'd like to point out that this is in fact a middle management role. In my case it would be moving to salary, getting more responsibility and exposure (and the risk of over-exposure! :o), a bit more leverage and yes, I would need to become a bit more assertive.

But only a bit more. I do believe in the corkscrew approach to improvement (mostly because of all the spinning I see going on in management in general these days! :lol:), though it can be hard to be patient.

It isn't easy to pin down money I've saved the company, even with my whiz-bang calculators, but collecting qualitative evidence of my impact would be pretty easy. I'm not sure how much my director knows of my tool kit, but he has a clue because I've given him a short internal paper on the subject of Beyond Compliance Auditing.

I can invite him to test the question with the top managers I've had the most dealings with. Might as well...they are my customers and he'd probably ask them in on the process anyway.

I think the thing that is hard is knowing just what he wants in these qualifications. I don't have access to a job description.

Very interesting thing about all of this is that I wasn't the one the hiring team had originally settled on for my current job. My director basically did an end run around them and called me--then hired me instead of the other guy...for which I am very thankful.

Thanks too for all of your specifics about aspects such as people approaches. I think it's tempting to think QA Mgr is a technically intense position, or that one needs a Masters in some kind of management discipline.

Maybe he's just interested in what I would have to say for myself. I think I've given them a couple of surprises, and it would be understandable if he wanted to know what cards I'm holding that I haven't shown yet.

I'm late joining the parade, but, as you can clearly see from the number and rapidity of the responses, you are liked and respected by folk who have only known you from what you write.


You mentioned "bullet points" in your initial post. Let me say at least two of those bullet points should be

Vast knowledge of the tools in the "toolbox" of quality and the ability to apply them when and as required
A great ability to help folks learn to use and apply those tools for the improvement of the organization.However, don't just settle for the bullet points - elaborate, using concrete examples, including some from here in the Cove, how you

perceived the essence of a problem or "opportunity for improvement,"
determined the proper approach, and subsequently
found and implemented a workable method of improvement.Folks have alluded to the "bugaboo" of the politics of moving up into management. This is true, BUT ( a very big BUT) true politics in an organization consists of finding and voicing the "benefit to the organization" while being aware of the need to provide a palatable answer for the stakeholders when they ask or even just think the question,
"What's in it for me?"

This is no different from what any successful Quality professional does every day!

GOOD LUCK ON GETTING THE POSITION!

I think the thing that is hard is knowing just what he wants in these qualifications. I don't have access to a job description.


It sounds like you have some support in the organization, so ask. Explain that you understand that at this level job descriptions are not set in concrete, but you would like to know what the expectations for this position are so you can feel comfortable with any decisions you make.

Jennifer, The reason your boss selected you as a replacement was because there is no one else better qualified and he knows it, we know it, and the all the people know it.

If you can find out or know already the following top management expectations:
What are the short term objectives?
What are the long term objectives?

Then provide your strategy to achieve those goals.

Wish you the best and you deserve it

I am joining this thread rather late, but it was a real pleasure to read through all those replies. As you can see, many Cove dwellers hold you in high regard, and I am no exception.

:applause:

As for the position: You are familiar with the tasks involved, and judging from what you post here in the Cove, there is every reason to expect that you will keep improving things.

/Claes

Cove dwellers

Hmmm... A Cove Dweller.. well, I guess I am.:D

But, Jennifer, Cove Dweller might require some explaining in an interview if you put that on a resume!:lol:

RATS!! Someone already beat us to the phrase anyway!:tg:

http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/images/covedwellerthumb.jpg

...you are not only willing to share your knowledge and experience, you are particularly very, very good at sharing it. Your teaching experience helps here, I think. ...making the people around you smart is the wise way for a manager to go. It becomes a win-win situation. There are some managers who do not care about growing their folks, to the detriment of all involved. I would think you would be the exact opposite of this, making you quite effective in your new role.

Two of your attributes that I have always admired is you seem to be quite non-confrontational, and provide patient, well-thought out responses. ... I think those are two attributes which would contribute to your management success. You have always seemed to be a team-builder and not so interested in grabbing the lights for yourself.

I'm jumping in late - anything I would have said has already been said - but these are the attributes I see again and again in your contributions here that consistently impress me.:agree1:

Jennifer you are smart, tactful, and seem to have all the right answers, YOU ARE A SHOE-IN. I look forward to reading the responses you have to other covers questions, sorry it took me so long to put my :2cents: in but everyone has already said about all that can be said. Buon Fortuna.:D

I've been asked to describe why I am suitable for his role.


More often than not we are suitable for any role we are asked to play, but ask this question to get a better perspective.....Is this role suitable for me and why?

In retrospect I have chosen correctly and incorrectly.

In my law enforcement career I chose to advance to upper command and shortened my potential career by 1/2 to 2/3rds of what I could have done at a lower level...I loved law enforcement. But the decision opened pathways not even known and I'm here.

In the military I chose to not advance in the enlisted ranks higher than Platoon level. Sergeant Major in the Marines was a guarantee and a shoe-in, I chose lower rank in the Special Forces, Aviation and then Armor/Cavalry. I loved the Marines and feel I could have done good things at a higher enlisted level. I did good things in my Army career. That decision brought me here also.

Both decisions, whether right or wrong, resulted in roles that were correct for me as I was for them and have put me far beyond what I had ever imagined.

Ask the question.

Randy,

You made me realize(remember?) that each situation/opportunity is different and your decisions change based on all the parameters.

Like you I never would have thought I would have ended up in quality. Is it a fit? Yes, why? Various reasons. However, my "career" started with a goal to be a physiotherapist! Yep, torturing people every day (maybe I reached that goal - just in a different way :lol:). I somehow 4 years after changing my direction towards operations I ended up in a quality role in a completely different city.

I am happy with what I have accomplished and wouldn't change it for the world - however, a different decision 15 years ago would have dramatically changed the course of my life and career.

Jennifer - I agree with everyone's comments. Just remember - doesn't matter the decision made there is always a reason (although you may not always see it). I have actually called people that did NOT hire me when I was green to say thanks for not hiring me because I would have failed miserably at that time of my career (obviously, didn't agree with it back then, but years later did).