Value of Job Rotation

Job rotation can be fun, but more importantly, you get exposure in other operational areas and form a much clearer picture of your company as a living, breathing entity; understanding what job rotation can do for your career is equally exciting.

Benefits to You
It’s impressive if you’re one of the most knowledgeable employees in your department, but you’ll become much more valuable when you prove that you can succeed in more than one department. Understand that you’ll need to approach this opportunity with confidence and optimism, because you’ll typically be challenged to excel in unfamiliar territory.

You will, however, receive wonderful benefits, both personal and professional. You’ll expand your knowledge, experience and expertise. If your employer is large, you’ll get to meet new people, some of which may become professional or personal friends. In most cases, employees increase their value to themselves and their employer.

Benefits to Management
Forward-thinking management benefits from job rotation just as you do. Unfortunately—and surprisingly—formal job rotation programs are still rare. By encouraging the best employees to spend six to 18 months in an area outside their specialty delivers management and company-wide benefits for all participants.

Illness, turnover, and family moves can leave an employer with a huge gap in talent in one or more areas; job rotation can eliminate the crises that might otherwise arise. And instead of needing to sift through piles of resumés, telephone and in-person interviews, background checks and compensation negotiation, they can identify current employees that have already exhibited extra special ability, and the potential risks associated with new hires declines dramatically.

Encourage Job Rotation
If your company has no formal job rotation program, you might face some hurdles if you want to participate. There is no “one size fits all” roadmap to help management see the value of job rotation. Industry and corporate culture differences require your creativity and innovation to get a program started. If you believe that you’re facing major road blocks, think small at first.

For example, if you work in the IT department as a software designer, you might convince your manager that the department will be stronger if you spend some time in the hardware or network architecture area. Argue that working with these teams will improve your design performance. Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?

If your plan works, you’ve created a new promoter of job rotation. And in many cases, your manager will spread the word to peers and senior management that job rotation should be considered on a company-wide basis. The benefits are many; the risks few or non-existent.

Overall, job rotation will help increase your value to your company and yourself. This will make you a more attractive internal candidate, expand your resumé and improve your marketability to new employers.

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