Advice please! 40 year old minority VP candidate

[Anonymous]

Don’t you think whoever you are interviewing with will go to your current manager to ask about you? You don’t want him/her to be blindsided. You want to apply for the new position with their support. Tell them you love your current job but want a new challenge. Dh did this recently - he used similar language to let his manager know he was exploring other opportunities in the company and kept her apprised. I’m simplifying a story that has many parts and involves many more people than one immediate manager but the fact is dh disclosed and ultimately landed a new internal opportunity that is a very good fit.

[Anonymous]

Tell your boss before she finds out you applied. It’s possible you could have her support if you talk to her first. My guess is it’s unlikely she’ll support you if she finds out through someone else.

[Anonymous]

You've already applied?

Reach out to HR directly and ask them about confidentiality with respect to internal roles. Tell them that you have applied and would like to know what the company policy is for confidentiality around internal hires, because you want to maintain your good working relationships with your current team.

If they can't tell you, or if the equivocate or delay, it likely means they don't have strong policy in place. In that case, I'd assume your current manager will find out.

(FWIW, where I work, internal candidacy is disclosed ONLY to the hiring committee, HR, and very senior leadership. The only time we'd reach out to a current manager is right before an offer, as a form of reference check.)

[Anonymous]

OP here- thank you. Yes I already applied— literally threw my resume in there. Im gonna try the courageous conversation route!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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!

I was in a similar situation. I just had a real honest conversation with my old manager to let him know that I was applying - that I understood it was a reach, and that it in no way reflected how I felt about my current job.
He was wonderful and even game me some interview advice. Turns out I actually got the job, and while you could tell he was a little annoyed professionally at having to replace me so soon after my finally being useful to him, he was also wonderfully supportive.

If your current manager is as good of a person/manager/mentor as you think they are, they'll be happy for you and glad to see you reaching.

[Anonymous]

The fact that you care about minority status means you ain’t ready for dis job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- thank you. Yes I already applied— literally threw my resume in there. Im gonna try the courageous conversation route!

Good call, OP. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Why do you think you'll get the job? It would be embarrassing to tell your boss I am gonna be your boss and then not get the job lol

[Anonymous]

OP here— i think it went well. She was surprised but said she understood and would hate to lose me, and wished me the best, gave me insight on that line also, including potential pitfalls (i know she is being objective, that line has been hurting budget-wise). For the record, if I were to get the job, I would not be her boss. We would be peers on the same level but different lines. She is more senior than me and im really hoping for a mentorship relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Disagree with the first sentence in one respect. My interpretation of OP's post and statement about being a minority is that OP is concerned that he/she will be promoted prematurely based on pressure to have a minority individual in a high level position. OP doesn't want sacrifice the relationship with his/her current mentor.

[Anonymous]

Don't say anything. Never talk about job moves until you absolutely have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't say anything. Never talk about job moves until you absolutely have to.

+1


If someone reaches out to your boss then oh well.
You owe nothing to her.

[Anonymous]

Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't say anything. Never talk about job moves until you absolutely have to.

-1

If you have good mentors, never blindside them.

[Anonymous]

I'm rooting for you, OP! Give us an update when you hear!

Signed 46 yo minority woman, also stuck in senior director level roles despite strong track record and experience while white women and men, often with poor interpersonal skills and lacking superior qualifications, have leapt ahead