What's your dream job? Personally, I'd captain Manchester United, and win a hundred international caps, scoring from the halfway line in the World Cup final - but as I've hit my 40's now, I've started to think that despite my efforts, it may just not happen for me.
I'm going to ask you to be a little more down to earth here, and think about a job you'd love to see yourself doing, that's a significant step up for you. What's the position? The company? Now consider what you'd do to secure that job. How much creative license would you take in the interview, in order to secure it? It's an important question to ask yourself if/when you're going for an elevated position. Be mindful of how you approach an interview in this situation, because if you're not careful, you might just end up getting your dream job - and hating it.
It's okay to aim big, take a leap of faith, and step up - provided you've got the skills, or the ability (and support) to gain them - in order to do the job well. It's tempting to talk yourself up to secure that dream role, but if you're not real with yourself in the interview, if you fake it, blag it, embellish (call it what you will) - if you make claims you can't back up, you may find the support you need isn't available, and could end up in the very stressful position of drowning under a sea of responsibilities you just aren't ready to meet (yet). In the past for example, I had a candidate apply for role that required a much higher level of time management than they were used to, and an ability to manage a diverse team of people - they talked a great game at interview, and were very plausible (I hold my hand up there, as do the hiring managers) and they secured the role, along with a tidy salary increase. They really wanted the job, and they said what needed to be said to get it. At their core though, that wasn't who they were and inevitably they struggled and were 'found out' on the job; it wasn't a great experience for them, or for their employer. It would have been far better for all parties for them to be themselves in the interview (and during our conversations before) and either realise that the opportunity wasn't a great fit, or ensure adequate support would be available to them to grow into the role. Better to let the interviewers know it's a step up, but one you've considered, and that you've identified areas you'll need support in, and skills you'll need to sharpen.
If the company's ready to support your growth, and appreciates your honesty, you're onto a winner - congratulations, you'll be supported to thrive and grow into your new role. If not, you might be saving yourself a world of pain by not biting off more than you can chew at this stage in your career.