Page 192 - James Caan - Get the Job you Really Want

The jc twist

Understand the components of the next level up from
your current position, and start to demonstrate that you
can do some of those tasks. Ask to be given some of those
responsibilities without the title. If you are an accounts
assistant, and being an accounts manager means you have

to do the monthly management accounts, ask your boss, ‘Is
it OK if I help put together the monthly accounts?’ Or if you
are a P A, volunteer to take the minutes at the next board

meeting. If you can show that level of initiative and carry
out some of the specific activities that happen at the next
level up, your willingness to be involved will be noticed.

Although persevering if you believe a job should be yours is
a valuable skill, you should also be prepared to admit when a

job is not working out. I had a lawyer approach me a couple of
years ago. He wanted to change careers, to come over and work
in private equity. He was a senior partner, with a six-figure
income to match. We thought it was too much of a risk. But he
insisted: ‘How would you feel if I took a sabbatical and came

and tried the job?’ We agreed and we gave him an opportunity.
He tried the job for three months and it was pretty obvious at
the end of that period that he wasn’t suited to our industry.

A lawyer is trained to think in a very specific way, and some-
times you can’t change that habit, you can’t change the way
you think. Lawyers have the ability to think in a way that is very
critical and very analytical, which I don’t think necessarily works

180 get the job you really want