Weird feeling about potential promotion

[Heidi60]

No one here can read other's mind so we can't say whether this is a step up or step out but always start looking for next job the day you start your current one. It seems your gut is telling you something.

[cheapdad00]

Originally Posted by emm74

It sounds more like a team lead role as opposed to an actual manager position, but these are the types of questions you get to ask during the interview. Why would this position report to another manager rather than to the director? Why does this contain all the same individual contributor responsibilities rather than solely managerial functions like other managers? What is the anticipated path for this role over time? No one here can answer.

And those are all questions the OP can ask at the interview. Part of the maturation process is being able to have frank discussions on your strengths/weaknesses/future goals and aspirations.

[cheapdad00]

Originally Posted by Suburban_Guy

Being asked to apply is not the same as being offered the position outright.

Don't count your chickens before they have hatched.

If you apply, go through the process, then feel like you have a good shot at getting it, that is the time to think about things. As touched upon above, this seems like a situation where the OP was in a comfort zone and never took the initiative to advance, and waited around for someone to automatically promote based on tenure.

To me this does not sound like a promotion. A promotion is more like you have been in your current role for xx amount of time, have excelled and taken on additional responsibilities, so we are bumping you up a grade level (more than likely after you have already been doing many of the duties of the higher grade role for a significant amount of time).

This sounds like they created a new open role, for which you might be the top candidate, but you still need to go out and earn it - through interview(s) and what other hiring processes OP's company uses. Because the role is open, others might be applying for it as well. [Even if OP is the best candidate].

[emm74]

Originally Posted by cheapdad00

And those are all questions the OP can ask at the interview. Part of the maturation process is being able to have frank discussions on your strengths/weaknesses/future goals and aspirations.

well yes, that was exactly what I said, to ask those questions or ones like them during the interview.