A third of UK employees say their career progression to date has failed to meet their expectations, with poor careers advice one of the reasons cited as stopping them from getting into the right jobs and bad line management preventing them from getting on once in work.
Recent research claims that four in every ten employees whose career has failed to meet expectations blamed poor line management, followed by a lack of effective training programmes (34%) and negative office politics (34%). A quarter blamed poor-quality career advice and guidance at school as a key factor in their lack of progress, with three in ten saying they are in the wrong career so cannot show their strengths or potential.
Not being able to afford to invest in their own personal development outside of work was claimed as a key factor by almost a third of those involved in the research.
The problem often seems to start at the recruitment and selection stage. Most people want a job with prospects for advancement. Whilst much can be done to make jobs more meaningful, in their keenness to recruit, recruiters often seem to raise unrealistic expectations of how careers could progress.
This is often compounded at annual appraisal when unrealistic expectations are not only not discouraged but actively encouraged by appraisers who are not comfortable with having the “hard” conversation.
The research flags the value of flexible working as a means of helping women to progress and develop fulfilling careers. A fifth of women whose careers have met their expectations say that a key reason is the provision of flexible working which has enabled them balance work requirements with those of home and family.
