Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited

Return to career-consulting-limited.com
Managing
People
Managing Your Career
CV Examples
Coaching
Cover Letter Examples
Pre-Employment Tests


Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Try, Try, Again


This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores issues such as internal growth opportunities, potential for advancement, career development importance, and the relationship between job performance and career advancement. Evaluating the Career Opportunities competency in your organization will determine whether your employees believe they have a chance to grow within the organization. Studies show that lack of career opportunity is one of the top reasons why employees leave an organization. Also, continually hiring open positions from outside the organization can be detrimental to morale when a qualified candidate is available internally. Topics covered in this competency are: perceived opportunity for advancement, existence of a career development plan, and organizational commitment to staff development.

This short story, Try, Try Again, is part of AlphaMeasures compilation, Tales From the Corporate Frontlines. It takes a lighthearted look at the career planning methods of some coworkers, and outlines one company's solid strategy for career development.

Anonymous Submission

Genuine opportunities for advancement are rare in the company where I work. Frequent job postings appear on strategically placed bulletin boards, according to company policy.

It's easy to tell when there's been a new posting. There's an almost constant group of onlookers, examining the paperwork as if it were the Holy Grail. You can hear them whisper ----who left? Or was this a new position? Who could qualify? Who would apply? Would they get hired? If they did, would it be a promotion or a lateral move? Was this a genuine career opportunity or a placeholder job?

Pass by human resources and you'll see one or more of the "fast-trackers" at the information counter. Members of this group apply for any and every job posted. It doesn't matter to them whether they are qualified, talented or experienced in the required area - as long as the potential salary is higher than their current rate. If there's no salary posted, they go on info-gathering missions and interrogate anyone who might know - on the quiet, of course. If it looks like a step up, they apply. Some have made the switch successfully, for a while, at least. It's usually not long before they're spotted scanning the job board again, searching for new career opportunities.

When the fast trackers are rejected, they can turn nasty. It's the company's fault, of course. But most people know enough to consider the source. After all, many of us give some thought to our career development planning, and feel that the fast trackers get what they deserve by not doing the same.

More often, employees feel concern for their long-term colleagues who apply for promotion when one of their superiors moves on, and are bypassed in favor of a new hire from outside the company. The reasons given usually make sense-but the fact is, when it happens too often, the company is blamed.

Fortunately, our company has a solid middle ground. Between the fast trackers and those who believe they should automatically inherit career opportunities, lie most of the average employees. At evaluation time, we work with our managers to find ways to develop the skills we need to get us into the jobs we want. We discuss new options and gather information. We engage in career development planning, and are prepared when opportunity comes along. I highly recommend this as the path to success.

-------------------------------------------------------------
© 2005 AlphaMeasure, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
This article may be reprinted, provided it is published in its entirety, includes
the author bio information, and all links remain active.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Measure. Report. Improve your organization with AlphaMeasure employee surveys.

Josh Greenberg is President of AlphaMeasure, Inc.

AlphaMeasure provides organizations of all sizes a powerful web based method for measuring employee satisfaction, determining employee engagement, and increasing employee retention.

Launch your employee satisfaction survey with AlphaMeasure.


MORE RESOURCES:

Careers at Prairie View A&M University - HR  Prairie View A&M University










Careers - Human Resources  Kennesaw State University











Careers  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Careers  Micron


Find a Job  Samaritan Health Services

Industry sells workers on ag jobs  The Western Producer



Careers at Bucknell  Bucknell University


Career Paths  FEMA



Employment  USC Upstate


Veterans and transitioning military | VA Careers  VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs


Careers  Smith College GrĂ©court Gate



Careers at NATO  NATO HQ


Apply for a Job  The City of Vancouver, WA






Careers at USI  University of Southern Indiana

Careers  Aptar

Careers  Medline Newsroom

Work for Us (U.S  National Park Service

Careers  The Ocean Cleanup

Careers at Air Liquide  Air Liquide



Careers | US Forest Service  USDA Forest Service




Careers  Technip Energies






Careers  CPKC


Work Here  UnitedHealth Group

Careers with Impact  IFC Press Releases










BOLD Student Jobs | College of Engineering & Applied Science  CU Boulder's College of Engineering & Applied Science

Latest news, analysis and jobs  The Business of Fashion



Careers with the Group  Volkswagen Group

10 Autism Friendly Employers  Verywell Health


Find a Role  Bain & Company



Jobs  Energy.gov


Careers  City of Somerville

Employment Opportunities  Unity Health Toronto



Careers & Employment  Pinellas County

ADM Job Openings  Unlocking Nature. Enriching Life. | ADM


City Jobs  charlottenc.gov

Need More Information?
Site Home | Site Map | Links | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
© Career Consulting Limited.com 2011

tumblr visit counter