The Importance of Clear Policies on Promotions and Transfers

There are numerous reasons why employees apply for promotions and transfers, not all of which are directly related to career advancement. While improving a career is the most common motivation, other factors also exist. Here are some of the common reasons you may seek new opportunities at a current employer:

• Try something new and interesting. Some employees feel the need for new challenges and motivators. Moving up or laterally on the organizational chart may offer that new, interesting career situation without changing employers.
  
  
• Tired of current tasks, duties, and responsibilities. Many employees are simply bored with their current job tasks. An intra-department or intra-company promotion, or just a different job can re-energize an employee’s enthusiasm.
  
  
• Perception of few growth opportunities in current department. Whether real or imagined, if you believe there will be limited chances to improve your skills, value or career in your current department, it may be your motivation to transfer to a different position.
  
  
• Unhappiness with your manager. This motivator is more common than either employees or management cares to admit. An employee and supervisor who are not on the same page can create many challenges. Should these issues magnify, many employees either seek relief via a transfer or will look for another employer.

Even if you have not yet experienced any of these motivators, the odds favour that you will at some point in your career. If or when this condition occurs, you will fully understand the importance of working for an employer that clearly states their policies for promotions and transfers.

Published company policies regarding promotions and transfers are important. It matters little whether you agree or disagree with these policies; the important factor is that you know what they are. Knowing allows you to plan and manage your career properly, with your current and future employers.

Advantages to You and Your Company on Clear Policies

Employers with clear, written and published promotion policies tend to attract better employees and suffer lower turnover. Employees working for these companies eliminate potential unhappy surprises, understand the factors that allow or prohibit intra-company job movement, and learn issues to consider when seeking new employment.

1. Publishing clearly-stated job postings minimizes confusion. You’ll have a good idea if you qualify for a posted position. This eliminates the automatic rejection that can occur when the position is not clearly defined.
   
   
2. The best candidates for positions are often current employees. Your accumulated knowledge of your company’s operations and needs offers advantages an outside candidate could never enjoy.
   
   
3. Advising staff of open positions gives employees confidence that the employer considers them valuable assets and wants to promote from within when possible. If given first opportunity to apply, internal employees feel they have a fair and equitable chance to achieve a promotion or transfer within the company.
   
   
4. Minimizes potential employee or management embarrassment when staff applications don’t qualify for promotion or transfer. Few employees or managers relish being advised or having to advise others they were not selected for a promotion or transfer. Published policies eliminate many unqualified applications, saving both manager and employee from unexpected bad news.

The key is to encourage or work for an employer that understands the importance of written and published policies for promotions and transfers. If you’re unsure, ask your HR department about company policies.

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