Ask the expert: Entering the unknown

Dr MARIE WILSON, head of management and employment relations at the University of Auckland Business School and a veteran of 20 years in corporate management and small business, offers advice.

I have been offered a job as an art director for an advertising agency.

However, there has been quite a bit of movement in the company lately - which is pretty much standard for the industry - and the person to whom I would report, the creative director, hasn't yet been hired.

I'm not too happy accepting a position when the person who will have so much influence on me and on how I do my job is unknown.

What should I do to protect my interests?

You are in no better - or worse - a position than your potential co-workers.

If there is a high degree of turnover in your industry, then you could expect to be working for a new boss at some point anyway; the key difference now is that you won't have an established performance record and network in the new company yet.

These are the "buffers" that we usually count on when there is a change. So your first priorities in the new job should be to perform well and get internal networks established while you maintain your existing professional network outside.

On the positive side, a new boss in the post may give you much more scope to negotiate the nature and direction of your job, as they won't have as many pre-conceptions of the role.

They are also less likely to have existing favourites in the firm, so you will be more likely to be considered afresh for projects and other opportunities.

They'll also be finding their feet initially, and will be more likely to look around for strong performers and those who know how things work in the firm to help them gain an understanding of their new role.

If you are clear that you can perform well in the new environment, then you should have few qualms about the impact of a new director.

I have worked in the banking industry for more than 10 years in India and have come on a permanent residence visa to New Zealand.

I have worked in almost all the areas of banking and that in itself is an achievement.

I have been applying for banking jobs advertised by banks as well as by consultants.

I have a fairly good CV but have not been successful so far.

When I talk to the consultants, the reason cited is lack of New Zealand experience.

First, they never advertised New Zealand experience as a requirement in the advertisement, and second, there is hardly any difference between the banking we do here and in India, as both have borrowed concepts from Great Britain.

Not all positions are advertised and/or managed by consultants.

If you are not getting through the filter, then you need to sidestep it somehow.

You may wish to target a specific bank, do some research regarding banking services in New Zealand, and focus on the potential employer that appeals to you.

You may decide that you want to focus on one or two banking groups, and you will be well prepared to explain why you want to work for them.

Have your CV reviewed by someone in the local industry to make sure that you are making your professional case as well as you can, and then go for a direct approach to the human resources director of the targeted bank as well to as potential supervisors in the area of your expertise.

Send them your CV with a good covering letter and then follow up with a request for a brief meeting.

Check their websites regularly to see when jobs become available and then remind your internal contacts that you would like to be considered.

Increase your informal network by attending professional meetings to meet members of the banking fraternity.