10 Tips for Getting the Job You Want

Excerpt from The Branch Manager’s Letter, April, 2015 • No 253

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10 Tips for Getting the Job You Want

Lateral moves and moving up the ranks can lead to greater opportunities for promotions, salary increases, and other perks. And don’t forget the intangible benefits. Getting the job you want can lead to a happier, more fulfilling career. Research shows that people are even healthier when they work at a job they truly want and enjoy.

Consider sharing the following with your team:

“YOU influence your ability to get the job you want, especially when looking to transfer or promote within an organization,” emphasizes Linda Manship, Consultant at Manship Consulting (Los Angeles, CA). “Information is always shared – good and bad. But you can count on the bad being shared more often than the good. Displaying positive behavior and actions keeps the rumor mill from turning bad behavior into worse behavior, and keeps negative reminders away from hiring managers.”

With 30+ years’ experience working for both banks and credit unions, Manship has firsthand experience at getting the job you want. Her first position was Proof Operator, ultimately moving up the ranks to Vice President of Branches. She recently made a presentation to a group of individuals who are participating in a Teller training program. As part of her focus on helping the Tellers grow their skills and careers, Manship offered these 10 tips:

10. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. This is both a literal and figurative message. “First impressions and every impression after you are an employee is important, especially when you are trying to convince someone that you are the right and best person for the job or a promotion,” Manship says. “Even if the organization has a business casual environment, always present yourself in a professional, neat and tidy manner. That sometimes means stepping it up a notch when it comes to your appearance.”

How do you dress for the job you want figuratively speaking? It’s the way you carry yourself in terms of professional behavior. Just like the clothes you wear, behavior helps shape the impressions you make on others.

9. Keep your résumé updated. A current résumé ensures you’re ready whenever a potential job opportunity presents itself. Consider and plan for important items such as where, and how far you are willing to commute if a position becomes available. By doing so, you’re prepared to respond quickly when opportunities arise. “The old saying ‘you snooze, you lose’ is true sometimes. Don’t let a less qualified individual get the job you are more qualified for just because you didn’t act soon enough,” says Manship.

TIP: Review your résumé on an annual basis. Be sure to add anything new such as tasks, responsibilities, skills, and training.

8. Initiate an impromptu phone interview with the hiring manager. “When a position becomes available, don’t hesitate to contact the hiring manager and solicit their feedback on what skills and knowledge they are seeking in a candidate to fill the position. This is an opportunity for you to offer a little feedback about yourself and your skills prior to the hiring manager receiving your promotion/ transfer request,” says Manship.

7. Consider a lateral move. While it may not feel like an opportunity because it doesn’t come with a pay increase, or because it might be a longer commute, sometimes the same job at a new location can create more opportunities down the road. For instance, the other branch or department may have more positions. When more positions exist, more opportunities may be available.

“I’ve made a couple of lateral moves during my extensive career. Had I not considered the lateral moves, including in one case a pay cut, or longer commutes on a few occasions, I would likely not be where I am today,” says Manship.

6. Display lots of initiative. Initiative isn’t just about asking for additional duties or assignments. The greatest examples of initiative are when you offer a direct “I will take care of that,” or maybe even just taking care of something without a request to do so. These simple acts of initiative don’t go unnoticed. Someone is always paying attention.

5. Be visible. Offer your services to other managers. “Consider sending an e-mail to other managers offering your help whenever you are able to do so. Examples are working an extra day of the week once in a while at another branch or in another department. This gives other managers the chance to learn firsthand what skills and abilities you have,” Manship says. “When that next opening occurs, and your transfer request comes across the person’s desk, he or she will remember you.”

4. Learn, learn, and then learn some more. Focus first and foremost at learning all you can about your current job. While you may get some of the tasks down quickly, there is so much more to our jobs than performing tasks or learning new systems. Manship offers these examples:

...Regulatory aspects that govern and protect the clients and the institution

...History behind why we do what we do

…What does the competition do? If you want clients to know you’re better, you have to know what others are doing and offering as well.

“Even when you think you know everything about your current job, there is something you should know that you don’t,” Manship says. “Never stop learning, growing and challenging yourself. During slow periods, you should not view the time as down time. View it as being provided with learning time. Have a schedule outlined for the next things you want to read and learn about.”

3. Embrace your weaknesses. “I actually prefer referring to these as our ‘opportunity areas for development.’ Let’s face it, we all have them. It is how you acknowledge them and work to improve them – even in the smallest way – that can increase your effectiveness tenfold, and then some,” Manship says. “Consider resources that can help you to manage and strengthen your ‘opportunity areas for development.’”

2. Focus on a single goal. Focus on what job or career path you are interested in and create a plan that will assist you in achieving that job. This may require some soul searching if you haven’t already determined your career aspirations.

TIP: Don’t be a job shopper when the move doesn’t appear to make sense. For example, applying for a job in accounting one day, then a position in a branch another day, followed by applying for a job in a back office role. “I’ve seen employees do this. It’s usually about trying to get away from something or someone, or looking for more money, rather than about a career plan,” says Manship.

1. Communicate your goals with your manager. Most of all make sure your manager knows what your goals and aspirations are. Outline a development plan with your manager. If your manager doesn’t take the initiative to ensure your development plan is in place, keep inquiring until it is achieved.

“Remember to focus on ensuring you accomplish the assignments, tasks and learning necessary. It’s easy to forget when you are busy doing your routine and daily activities,” Manship says. “Use various resources to help you keep on top of your plan, whether documenting it in your Outlook Tasks or creating a quick reference card that you have posted and visible at your work station. Also, consider seeking the additional assistance of a mentor to guide and nurture you in your endeavor.”

Linda Manship is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years’ experience working for banks and credit unions. Linda launched her consulting business with an objective of sharing her knowledge and skills as a transformation agent to assist and lead banks and credit unions interested in initiating change.

Linda’s broad scope of knowledge encompasses leading and overseeing branch sales and service, human resources, accounting, consumer lending, and project management. Manship Consulting can assist with leading and implementing projects, process improvements, policy and procedure writing, and system and procedure training.

To contact Linda Manship, call 818-422-6146 or e-mail linda@manshipconsulting.com

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