Do you work to a Job Title or to your Capability?

Part of me is hesitant to write this article for fear of it being picked up and spun into a recruitment story that everyone in recruitment has suddenly (overnight) been the guiding light in industry indifference, but I feel it is a story that needs to be told.

Several years ago I found myself at the end of a contract in late November (never an ideal when you are a self-employed consultant) and knowing that There was unlikely to be much movement or interest in term of new clients before February the following year, I decided to do a small fill-in contract job for a couple of months. Remit was low compared to the work I usually do as a consultant, but I thought it is better to take on a lower paid role during a low season rather than have an excess of free time and an inclination to spend our savings (out of boredom). So I took on a Purchasing Officer role that was referred to me by a recruiter.

The recruiter advised me that having me do the role was basically using a "sledgehammer to drive in a thumbtack" but since I wasn't doing anything productive it could be a good fill-in for a couple of months. The other piece of advice I was given was to work only to the role requirements as we don't want the client getting a lot more for the small remit they were paying.

Which gets to the massive personality flaw I have in the latter advice. I have always prided myself in working at my full capacity regardless of the role. So the client got someone with years of complex Procurement and Supply Chain expertise at the bargain price of $25 per hour... right. Not entirely. It took 3 days before the HR manager called me into the office for a "chat" which went a little like this:

HR: " I wanted to talk to you about you work here at XXXX company"

Me: "Ok..."

HR: " The National Procurement manager has noticed that your skills do not exactly match what we have employed you to do. What is is that you usually do?"

Me: " I usually consult on complex supply chain or procurement issues or work in Procurement / Supply Chain management"

HR: " That is what we thought. We noticed that your skills were far beyond the requirements for the role. However the National Procurement Manager and I would like you to say and act as a back-up for him. What is your usual hourly rate?"

Me: "Depends on the context and situation. For Ad-hoc contracts it is usually much higher, but for continuous contracts I can usually do a discounted hourly rate of $YYY per hour"

HR: "Ok that's fine, we will adjust your rate to $YYY per hour effective immediately and advise the recruitment company"

The reality of the matter is that, had I worked to the remit and Job description instead of to my capability as I was advised, then I would have remained at $25 per hour for the duration of the contract and would have been bored with the work and looking to move on. Working to my capacity opened the door to being offered a rate akin to my normal long term day rate and an immediate increase in job requirements, responsibilities and autonomy.

As a manager I was accused of showing favoritism to certain employees at times in regards to promotions and offering new and more challenging work to my staff, my response was always the same. "They actively look for opportunities to improve and increase their knowledge and skills in their roles so when the opportunity to offer a promotion exists, they are always the first people I think of. You on the other hand are content with working within the context of your role and never ask for opportunities to evolve and grow your skills" If you do the same then you will find the same opportunities offered to you"

As a final note the recruiter in my story called me on the way home from my job "What the heel did you do at XXXX company? HR has just called me and advised they are giving you a 300% payrise effective immediately. This has never happened in my entire history as a recruiter and you definitely hold the record for getting the highest payrise in the shortest time"

So what do you do if you are in a role below your capabilities? Just work to the confines of the PD? Or do you immediately set out to prove your value beyond your remit?