Ask the expert: Career moves need care

* Dr Marie Wilson is associate professor of management at the University of Auckland, research director of the ICEHOUSE business accelerator and a veteran of 20 years in corporate management and small business.

Q: How can you make sure a transfer out of town won't work against your interests?

I've been offered a transfer from the Auckland head office where I work to a region to manage a smaller subsidiary. It's a promotion, I suppose, in that I will get to show what I can do when in charge of a company, rather than being the head of a large department as in Auckland.

However, I don't want to get stuck in the regions as my ageing parents are in Auckland, and I'd like to eventually come back to the parent company. But how can I control or negotiate the whole process so I don't get stuck?

A: Clearly you've identified this as a career development strategy - now you need to do the same with the company you work for.

As part of negotiating for the new position, you need to agree on a length of time for the position, the expectations for your performance, support structures for the transition both to and from the assignment, and then a return strategy to the parent company.

There may need to be some flexibility about the nature and timing of your return.

You are approaching this the way many people approach an expatriate assignment, so it has many of the same issues. You should discuss these with senior management, including HR, and get the entire plan in writing as part of the negotiation of the agreement regarding your new post.

This is my first job search in six years and not only have the rules changed, but the buzz words have too. Could you suggest a convincing strategy to convey "passion"?

The dictionary definitions for passion do not seem to fit into my view of the business world or the limitations of a job interview. Can you offer something practical that will not have me dressing up in a clown suit or bouncing off the walls?

The term "passion" is almost certainly overused in job advertisements, especially when you consult the dictionary. So what is it that employers are looking for when they include this term in their advertisements, job descriptions or candidate profiles?

First, they are probably looking for someone who has a higher than average level of energy and excitement about the type of work that is involved.

From their perspective, people who have passion enjoy their work and communicate that enjoyment to others.

Second, they may be looking for someone who has a belief or set of values that puts a particular issue - such as responding to customer requests or increasing health - as an organising principle for the way they act.

Someone who is passionate about meeting the needs of others would put those issues first. If this is what the employer is looking for then dropping the word "passion" into your CV will probably not address the issue. Your CV, letter of interest and interview should include examples that demonstrate this orientation or enthusiasm from your previous experiences.

* Send your questions to: julie_middleton@nzherald.co.nz