Mezla PigDog, on 02 July 2021 - 09:27 PM, said:
Professional dilemma. About 5 years ago I was due on maternity leave and my boss quit and recommended me as replacement for her role. It would have been a big leap and I was like a beached whale at the time and had the whole baby thing and a year off to do so didn't apply. I had one colleague who I thought was a good alternative and she ended up being the sole applicant and has been really good in the role and a lovely boss since. Fast forward 5 years and we have worked well together but I'm frustrated constrained below her with no options of advancement but equally quite happy that she gets a lot of the shit and I have a supporting role with a better work life balance.
This week a new post was advertised internally in our business that is a big surprise and is above us both but off to one side in the hierarchy. It is really suitable for my boss and being objective I reckon I'd be the second best placed person to take the role if she didn't want it. The ideal scenario is that my boss applies and gets it and I hopefully get promoted into her current position. Second best scenario is that she doesn't apply, I do and I get it and she stays where she is. I don't especially want the new role, I want her role but I'd take the new role over staying where I am right now.
I'm friends with my boss(ish). I asked her out right and she said she will probably apply. So now my conundrum is - until she gets the new role, a replacement for her is not needed. So do I hedge my bets and wait and hope things play out in my favour or do I apply for a role that I don't really want and am blatantly not the best person for? I don't want to look like a chump applying for something out of my league when I actually want the post slightly below but also I don't want to look like I have no ambition after already not applying for the last big opportunity in the past.
I think I need to not overthink, apply for it, show what qualities I have and hope it all plays out as it should.... Just not looking forward to the process or gossip if I lose out when actually that was fine for me all along so long as the end game is ok.
Career!! Awful word.
My thoughts: you both should apply for it and interview etc. They will pick the person they like. If they pick you, great. If they pick her, you can then slide into the vacated position.
Neither of you lose by applying and trying for it.
I survived the Permian and all I got was this t-shirt.