Comments on: Agency Promotion: Does it happen too quickly?

By: JGoldsborough

JGoldsborough — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:37:42 +0000

For me this situation is a lot like other situations that deal with employee conduct and career path -- it's a management issue. Managers and employees need to have conversations where they discuss the employee's career objectives (short- and long-term) and what it takes at said agency to get there. Promotions shouldn't just pop out of the sky like the stork dropping in with a baby. There should be reason and expectation behind them.

So manager and employee talk, employee sets objectives to be working at a level that warrants promotion, employee meets those objectives -- and by the way, those objectives should have the employee already doing the work required at the next level. Then, after that, it's up to the manager to certify is this person ready to take on the added responsibility. And actually, have they already taken it on?

If agencies just promote someone because they "think it's time" or they're trying to hold onto an employee, that doesn't do anyone any favors. That's why we don't just print off extra money when we need it as a country. I suck at economics, but pretty sure there's this thing called inflation. Managers make or break your experience at any job. And your career path, including promotions, is part of that experience. Sure the employee should be working to manage up too and always asking questions. But the manager needs to make the decisions that's best for his/her employee and the agency.

By: Meg Roberts

Meg Roberts — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:18:43 +0000

I think the bigger issue is when companies promote employees without changing or adding to the existing job responsibilities. I've seen this happen numerous times – an employee receives a promotion and a new title, but has no idea what has changed from their previous role. Many times, they keep functioning as they always have, which truly limits the opportunities for growth in the long-run.

@megmroberts

By: Worob

Worob — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:32:15 +0000

In my experience, smaller/boutique agencies will not only move too quickly to promote people, but they will also provide substantial pay raises on a frequent basis. Why? They need to hold on to talent for as long as they can. It's challenging to keep good workers from jumping ship and going to larger agencies with larger, 'name' clients

@Worob
PR at Sunrise (worob.com)

By: Laney

Laney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:30:37 +0000

Promotions are a tricky subject and honestly most of the “were they promoted too quickly” comes from comparing person X to industry standards or even yourself.

Coasting through some of the entry level jobs may seem easy…going from AA to AAE to AE can mean different things for different agencies; however, once you reach a certain level that can all change. You may find early promotion catch up to that person when they least expect it. Early promotion is only cheating them in the long run.

By: Kathy Swanson

Kathy Swanson — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:44:51 +0000

I don't think this is a problem at just agencies but a problem with many companies. They have to fill the holes somehow that were left by those displaced during the recession.