After 20 years in a position where I interact with customers I am applying for an internal management position. I am afraid I may not be taken seriously for the position. I have pursued and obtained my business degree but have no experience in management. As I re-define myself within the company, I need to overcome the attitudes that consider me outside the main office and therfore not up to pace with current hot issues and politics. Got any FAST advice? Thanks

-- Charlie French (cfrench@muscian.net), May 31, 2002

Answers

Charlie, what makes you think these things: 1. You may not be taken seriously for the position 2. You need to overcome attitudes that consider you outside the main office

If you can analyze your situation and define precisely what makes you think these things, you will be on your way to your solution. The source of these negative thoughts can be from conscious or subliminal feedback from co-workers, or can simply be a reflection of your own self-doubts or fears. Knowing whether your fears are founded in reality or not helps point you in the right direction.

Now I have some questions for you:

1. Have you defined your objective clearly? (Why do you want the new job? Where do you expect it to lead you that your current situation won't? If you get the job, what do you expect it to be like? Is that realistic?)

2. Have you discussed your objectives with a mentor or knowledgeable peer and gotten feedback about your realistic chances and expectations?

3. Are you up to pace with current hot topics and politics? (Possible red flag here -- "politics" -- is personal politics more important when it comes to management positions than experience and ability? Is this something you are comfortable with?)

Good luck -- and ask a lot of questions.

-- KT Hernandez (kt@evoco.net), June 07, 2002.