Advice please! 40 year old minority VP candidate

[Anonymous]

Hello! Im a 40 yo minority VP candidate, an internal role in a different line. It is a “reach” for me. I have been in my role for 1 year now, a lateral move after not being promoted for 6 years at a director level role. I applied to the VP role because it interested me. Now I worry, my current mgr might think it is a power move. I really like my current mgr and would like to make sure our relationship is good. Im hoping she will continue to be a mentor for me even if I were to get this role. My question is— do i tell her im interviewing or wait if I get the job? My problem is what if she hears it first from someone else? Would that be worse? Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Being a minority is irrelevant.

If it's an internal role, yes, you tell her because she'll find out. If it's for a promotion, then she should understand.

[Anonymous]

Op here— thanks. I worry it is too early for me to be applying to a new role (part of me was just testing the waters). I dont know if i should tell her now or after the deal is more likely. For all i know, i could just be a formality interview for someone else already.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t tell her. She shouldn’t be hearing it from anyone else.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say anything yet.

[Anonymous]

Does your company have any policy of incumbent manager being informed before the interviews begin? If so, have the courageous conversation now. Even if there isn’t a policy, they will likely find out sometime during the process and you may not be able to be ahead of that curve. If you care about the relationship at all, have the convo

[Anonymous]

You don't sound ready. Regardless of your race.

[Anonymous]

Op here- thank you. I did not mention my race

I mention I am a minority perhaps to describe my insecurity and real worry that I am just a diversity interview. Yes, I lack confidence and I do acknowledge this is a reach for me (not wildly though, one of the key deliverables is something I am an SME, and two of the main collaborations is the with the group that I left and the one I am currently in). I am grateful for the opportunity to interview but hopefully not at the expense of my relationship with my current manager.

Perhaps the other thing that makes this tough for me is because my current manager nominated and got me a huge performance cash prize award (3x my annual bonus) I was notified of the award (and the interview!) just last week.

My previous manager knew when I applied to this current role of mine. He knew there was no place for me to go up in his line without him leaving.

I would like to be ready, of course. I see this as good practice if I dont make it this round. Any suggestions on how to frame the challenging conversation? I was planning to convey my excitement for the opportunity but that it is a reach and I know I still have lots to learn in my current role (which is true)

[Anonymous]

I think conveying excitement for a role is a good strategy - I’d also frame as asking for advice - your boss is someone whose path you admire and who has invested in you… do they have any thoughts on what you should work on to be more attractive for a role like that one - either now or in the future.

[Anonymous]

If your current manager put you in for an enormous award after only a year, that is an enormous vote of confidence in you. If I were in their shoes, I would feel a bit betrayed to find out you were applying for other jobs already. Like, why am I investing in this person when she’s looking to bail out?

She probably already knows about this through the rumor mill. I would talk to her. Something like:

“I am really enjoying working for you, and I am beyond appreciative of the recognition you have given me. Somewhat impulsively, I threw my hat in the ring for the VP role, just as a personal stretch, to see what happens. I just wanted you to hear this from me. I want you to know that I am not job hunting per se. This was really just a one-off. I have great respect for you and hope my interest in testing the waters doesn’t affect our working relationship, which I really value.”

[Anonymous]

OP— thank you so much for these! I know the optics are not great. I am very grateful for the award (and I do deserve that— I worked my tails off and helped get us some decent wins)

[Anonymous]

You sound like you’re a hard worker and very smart. Your manager knows it and probably sees your potential to grow. Be confident, you got this! If you don’t try to stretch, you’ll end up with regrets. You’re clearly talented, own it.

I often second guess myself and am not confident (POC female) a good friend, who happens to be a white male, told me to think about it this way “what would you do if you were a white male?” They run this country and are the CEO’s of most businesses. How do you think they got there? All hard work and smarts? No. Confidence and expectation that they deserve more.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

The fact you’re a minority is completely irrelevant and I’m not sure why you brought it up.

To answer your question I do think you need to give your manager a courtesy heads up since you’ve only been in your role a year and he just got you a huge bonus. I’ve had colleagues explain it to their bosses that they know they haven’t been in their current roles for long but wanted an opportunity to advance, or to at least show upper management that advancement is on their radar for when the time is right.

[Anonymous]

If it's internal, the odds are your current manager will get an "informal" call asking about you are high. You should just tell her. People understand interviewing for higher level roles, if they're good managers anyway, which it sounds like yours is. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here— THank you! Im also aware of the ticking age clock and (while appropriately checking my ambitions) hoping to set myself up to at least have a go at a leadership role.

It’s important to me to try to have more of a voice and an easier path to bringing certain things forward.

I know I can fail, but I do want to give it a try. Hopefully not be scalded