Careers & Employment Information

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:
Google

Pa. manufacturing employment decline slows
Bizjournals.com, NC - 9 hours ago
Pennsylvania's manufacturing employment dropped 1.2 percent in the past year, according to a new report, in part because of automation, ...


3 News NZ

Employment law change, but no shakeup under Nats
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - 7 hours ago
National has confirmed if it is elected to power it will largely retain the Employment Relations Act (ERA). National leader John Key told a business ...
National issues industrial relations policy Radio New Zealand
National to unveil tax cuts policy in first week of campaign National Business Review
No change in tax policy - National Radio New Zealand
all 14 news articles


Area employment down for 8th month
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI - 1 hour ago
Lisa Rands, Milwaukee-based regional vice president for Adecco Employment Services, said the staffing company actually had a better June in Wisconsin than ...


The Cud

Gitmo Workers Anxious About Employment Future
The Cud, Australia - 12 hours ago
Now, Gitmo employees will have to start working on their resumes again and will need to find new ways to seek rewarding employment. ...
Video: 1st War Crimes Trial Since WW2 Starts AssociatedPress
all 337 news articles


Research and Markets: Market, Class, and Employment: A ...
MarketWatch - 17 hours ago
Based on the Future of Work research programme this book will shape our understanding of employment in Britain for the foreseeable future. ...


Research and Markets: How to Prevent Damaging Employee Lawsuits ...
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
Prepared by top employment attorneys--then translated into plain language for business people--this must-have manual has everything you need to know to stop ...


Washington Post

Full-time workers deserve more than poverty-level income
Kansas City Star, MO - 1 hour ago
?Any slumps in employment, particularly among teens, after historic minimum-wage increases reflected overall unemployment increases due to cyclical economic ...
Minimum wage increases by 70 cents today Abilene Reporter-News
NC minimum wage increases by 40 cents Morganton News Herald
With jump in minimum wage comes debate over its worth, timing McClatchy Washington Bureau
MarketWatch - Inc.com
all 412 news articles


Ain't No Sunshine For Workers In National's Employment Policy
Voxy, New Zealand - 6 hours ago
24 July 2008 - "The two themes threading through National policy to date continued today with the release of their Employment Relations Policy," Council of ...
Workplace policy: expanding job opportunities Scoop.co.nz (press release)
National's Employment Policy Would Drive Down Wages Voxy
National?s policy another attack on working people Scoop.co.nz (press release)
Scoop.co.nz (press release) - Scoop.co.nz (press release)
all 14 news articles


Calif. unemployment board fires top administrator
Forbes, NY - 13 hours ago
The state Employment Development Department first rules on requests for unemployment benefits. Appeals are heard by an administrative law judge and ...


Boston Globe

Minimal impact
Tulsa World, OK - 22 hours ago
The seven-county metro area also added 1700 jobs in May, giving it a total nonfarm employment of 428600, according to information from the Oklahoma ...
Summary Box: Minimum wage increase may not go far The Associated Press
Minimum wage set to rise, but views vary Reuters
Govt urged to set fair minimum wage levels The Daily Yomiuri
all 86 news articles

Employment - Google News

home | site map
© 2006