Fast-Tracked to Assistant Manager: Will Future Employers Value My Quick Promotion?

Dear friends,

I have been promoted to Assistant Manager-HR. I have one and a half years of experience. I joined my present company on 1st May 2007 as an HR Executive. Three days ago, the company promoted me, effective from 1st Nov. I have taken on the new responsibilities, but I am unsure if this promotion will truly benefit me. I am genuinely surprised to have become an Assistant Manager. They mentioned that my work was superb and excellent, which led to my promotion. My question is, if I were to go for another interview, would they consider me for the position of Assistant Manager, given that I have been promoted in such a short time?

Thank you.

Dear Ayesha,

This is a type of "Exit Barrier" which organizations usually create to ensure that the current employee does not leave the organization. This can be achieved by offering the employee a higher salary or designation than the current industry standards, which is the case with you now.

However, there is a way you can overcome this during interviews. You can explain that your performance was exceptionally good, and as a result, the organization rewarded you accordingly.

Regards,
Ajay

Dear Ayesha,

Assalamu Alaikum,

Congratulations! Be happy with the promotion. Think positively. Enjoy life. Don't think too much into that.

Do you have the belief that the promotion was given for your performance? I have been promoted twice in 5 years in my current company, from Executive to Asst Manager, and now to Manager-HR for the group.

Hi Ayesha,

Echoing M. PEER MOHAMED SARDHAR's comment, I am happy with the promotion and that your efforts and contributions are recognized by the company. Unless you yourself believe that you haven't done enough to deserve this - which I don't think is the case, is it? Of course, now that you are in charge, you may want to sharpen your leadership/managerial skills.

Congrats

Hello friends,

I'm not saying that I don't deserve the promotion. Of course, I definitely deserve this promotion: I have done a lot of things for the company. Let me list some of my duties: taking interviews, finalizing the pay of employees, handling grievances, giving appraisals, promotions and demotions, getting employee feedback, planning job rotations for employees, preparing payrolls, interacting with clients and other HR professionals in the company to enhance business and secure projects, handling consultancies, preparing HR policies, giving induction and training, and conducting exit interviews, among many other responsibilities.

These were the roles I performed when I was an HR Executive. And now, as an Assistant Manager HR, my Key Result Areas (KRAs) are defined in much greater depth. What I mean to say is, will other corporate companies accept me as an Assistant Manager? Because I believe such cases are very rare - the journey from HR Executive to Assistant Manager HR in merely one and a half years.

Thank you for your motivation.

Hi Aysha,

There is nothing to be worried about this. I have also been promoted within a span of 6 months in my current company to the same designation as yours. Even then, I was able to secure an offer as an HR Manager in another company. So, don't worry, the acceptance of our current position by corporates is not very important. What truly matters is how we present ourselves in the market.

Congratulations on your promotion! I wish you all the best.

Regards,
Mohideen

Hi Ayesha,

As-salamu alaikum!

Your efforts have yielded good returns. Anyway, take things as they come!! Continue with your efforts with more sincerity and honesty, and await the returns!!

By the way, congratulations!

Mujeeba

Dear Ayesha,

To begin with, please accept my congratulations. I perfectly understand your predicament as I have been in that situation before. I think you should not be worried about this. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that, whatever be your designation, the one thing that any organization will look for is the ability to handle responsibility commensurate with your designation. So girl, just keep upgrading those skills and you'll be fine.

Ensure that your current employer defines your KRAs as an Assistant Manager. From there on, it is a cakewalk.

Regards,
Wooster

Hi Iyesha,

I am in the same condition. I joined a Ltd. Manufacturing Company in March 2006 as an HR/Front Office Executive, and I resigned from the same company in September 2007. During this short period, I handled the entire HR department independently and also worked with the MD for more than 8 months. The great thing is that I appointed the Manager HR and DGM HR in my company.

Now, I have joined a big business giant in India. They selected me through headhunting and offered me the position of Deputy Manager HR & IR. I have been successfully handling this role for the past 2 and a half months.

So, do your best.

Rahul

Ms. Ayesha,

There are few born managers and more made managers. In your case, I do not find you mature enough to be a manager now.

Reason No. 1: You do not have the confidence in yourself that you would be able to perform as a manager.

Reason No. 2: Your attitude is not right. When the employer is promoting you based on your performance, you must be willing to take up such a big responsibility and consider staying with the same organization for at least 3 years (minimum). However, you are already thinking about attending interviews and changing your employment immediately after receiving this promotion.

As an HR person, you should be a role model for your team. If you yourself do not have confidence in carrying out your role and maintaining a good attitude towards the organization that has given you a significant promotion, how will you be able to effectively manage employees in your organization?

Sridharan