No promotions in place

[floattuber]

I'm not sure if this is a new policy or it has always been like this, but I've learned that my company has a policy where one cannot get promoted in place. That is, in order to be promoted, a job position has to be opened and I would have to interview for it along with everybody else. This even includes the next step up from my current position.

It seems to me I have no incentive to stay around too long. For now, I'm content with where I am but that's beside the point. I've already seen 1 person jump ship because of this policy and he was an asset to the company.

Is this a common policy? What do you all think about such a policy?

 

[rterickson]

I started my career at a city-owned utility in southern California.

To promote from the entry level, you had to pass a civil service exam (8-hour written + oral interview panel) and you were put on a list based on your overall score. They would start at the top of the list, and for every "opening", civil service rules required them to interview anyone (who applied for the position) within the top 3 scores. As each candidate promoted (same position, but considerably higher salary), the process would repeat for the next position, on down the line. For many/most positions, only the incumbent applied from within the utility.

In theory, the process allowed candidates in other city departments (i.e. Building Dept, Streetlights, Airports) to try for a higher paying utility position. In practice, no-one ever failed to secure an in-place promotion. Their weren't many dead weight situations, as you had to be pretty competent to pass the exam in the first place.

For subsequent promotions (Associate Engineer to Engineer level) you had to apply for a vacant position.

 

[Waidesworld]

Recently in some of the cities around Boston they had all the teachers reapply for their jobs. It's a cost cutting technique based on sub par budgets and inadequate funds.

drawn to design, designed to draw

 

[HgTX]

rterickson: What would they have done if the incumbent did happen to be significantly less qualified than someone who applied from outside?

Hg


Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[rterickson]

HgTX:

I never saw a situation where an outside candidate displaced the incumbent.

I suppose it could happen; presumably he would have to apply for the next position available, or get promoted in a vacant position (some departments were harder to keep staffed, and always seemed to have openings).

I suppose there are provisions in the civil service rules that would allow the incumbent to refuse a promotion and stay put, too.

 

[floattuber]

Well things just got interesting...I got promoted...in place.

It was certainly a shock to me. After thanking the boss, I flatly asked about the "promote in place" policy and he said yeah all the managers are hounding the HR people about it and they are either giving up on the policy or are making quiet exceptions.

 

[LizardmanDan]

That seems like a usual hilarious thing that happens where I work.

Some new policy is so damn important, but it takes up a needless amount of my time. Since I only work so many hours in a day it often times get forgotten about. Since it was soo important all of my managers forget about it too after the first few months. (sarcasm is case you couldnt tell)

I just love how new policies which are "mandatory" just get dropped or not followed if they had no real purpose in the first place other then to valid a manager's pet project of the week.