Does a company's limited growth strategy = said company's demise? (employee, highest, jobs)

[mcb1025]

I want to ask you all a question just to gauge your perception.

For the sake of this question, let's assume the economy is strong. Let's say you had a conversation with your manager about where you'd like to be in the next few years. Your manager responds by telling you that there's not much opportunity for you to go anywhere with the company, not necessarily because of your performance, but because of limited room in the company. Do you consider this company to be poorly run, or do you consider this to be the norm? Does a company that has such a limited growth strategy stand much of a chance at survival?

IMO, a lot of people take jobs with a company assuming/hoping there will be room to move up. In many cases, I think it's true that when a company doesn't provide much room for growth, they have a difficult time retaining talent. In addition, I hold the belief that a company that doesn't strive to grow has significantly less of a chance at survival than those that do. Do you guys think that I have a valid opinion, or am I too much of an idealist?

I'm very curious what your thoughts are. Thanks for the responses.

[JetJockey]

Well, in some companies there is just no going anywhere. With the company I work for, the only way I would 'work up' is by becoming a multi-engine jet pilot or getting my A&P license. Even then, it wouldn't necessarily be moving 'up', it would just be moving around.

I'm basically my own department, with my own budget and my own job descriptions. Eventually I may get an assistant, but not until we open the new facility next year. Even then, I'm not going anywhere

[mcb1025]

Originally Posted by JetJockey

Well, in some companies there is just no going anywhere. With the company I work for, the only way I would 'work up' is by becoming a multi-engine jet pilot or getting my A&P license. Even then, it wouldn't necessarily be moving 'up', it would just be moving around.

I'm basically my own department, with my own budget and my own job descriptions. Eventually I may get an assistant, but not until we open the new facility next year. Even then, I'm not going anywhere

My question is aimed more at those companies/industries that have significant room in between the lowest and highest pay grades (e.g. file clerk --> Admin. Asst. I --> Admin. Asst. II --> Admin. Asst. III --> Asst. Manager --> Office Manager --> Operations Manager --> CFO --> CEO).

[sike0000]

I don't care about a companies future growth for moving up, it is more for job retention.

If they don't have a decent outlook then they are probably looking to move into a different field, poorly run, overstaffed, etc. All signs to either not start working there, or get the resume out if you do. I am always aware of these signs and so far have managed to get out in time.

If I want a pomotion or new position, I will look for another job. Most of my jobs, unless I move into upper management, will not change much from a day to day standpoint. Sure, my title could change, all the way to supervisor, but I will still have the same repsonsibilities. Unless you can switch departments it will be as JetJockey says, and more like moving around.

Now, in the past, I have hoped to move up in a company. More often than not most places seem to hire from the outside. Not to mention you could get a 20 to 25 raise moving on, rather than taking a 10% at your current job for what will probably amount to a few more responsibilites tacked onto what you already do.

I do agree with you mcb.

[samston]

It could mean a number of things:

- the company doesn't like to hire internally much (it should be a balance between internal and external, but this depends on the firm in question)

- the company has an old boys network in place, and anybody not in this network is excluded from promotion

I agree with you, in that a company that does not have good retention/employee relations policies wouldn't prosper.

[maschuette]

My Mother is a senior vice president of a bank, so she is about 3 places from the top. The bank is a good size and has probably 8 or 9 branches. But they havent been growing much or at all for quite a while. But my mom has moved up several times, she started as a computer networker. The point is, just because the company is not growing that doesnt mean you cant take someone else's spot. This bank is very quick to boot people "to the basement." They dont fire, they just move you to someplace unimportant until you quit, and move someone else who is more compitant into your place. Just because a company is not growing doesnt mean you cant be promoted, big business is always looking for the best.