People in the corporate world have one common goal of excelling and moving to higher levels in the career. To survive in a career requires a person to build a strong rapport with the surrounding environment and understands its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. Building a rapport with the workplace environment helps the individual create a positive and lasting relationship with other employees and the management, build good relationships with customers, and get supported for proposal and ideas generated towards growing the individual's career goals. Laura was a young profession dedicated to growing her career and becoming a senior professional in the business field. Working with Concord Investment Co. in the Retail Marketing Department created a new environment with some opportunities for Laura to build her career and become a leader in the long-term. Her close job and personal relationship with David played a significant role in building her career and elevating her to higher levels in the department.
After years of working in the Retail Marketing Department under the mentorship of David, Laura needs to take a different perspective on her career and decide on whether to stay in the Retail Marketing, join the investment advisory, or look for another opportunity in a different firm. The decision made by Laura should be of the best of her interest, which helps build her career and meet her goals.
The following argument leads to the hypotheses:
Laura is more likely to benefit if she continues working at the Retail Marketing Department while engaging in a serious job-hunting process outside Concord than when she moves to the Investment Advisory or remains at the Retail Marketing Department.
Laura’s weaknesses in managing her career
The case demonstrates Laura's dedication towards becoming a successful business profession, but she has problems managing her career. During the time of the interview, Laura had a lot of confidence that she would secure a good position in the organization and saw it as a good starting point to build her career. However, along the way while working in the Concord's retail marketing department, she appeared to lose focus and get confused on the best route to follow. Progressing towards meeting career goals does not depend on the success and impact in the career, but other factors like competition, conflict of interests, complex uncertainties, self-management skills, and career tactics. Additionally, the individual must gain a good insight of the organizational realities (Patton 2). Laura seemed successful and more influential in matters pertaining Retail marketing, but she lacked career tactics and self-management skills towards managing her career.
In the scenario, David used to control her actions and made decisions on her behalf in most circumstances. Laura had a weakness of spotting emerging opportunities and possibilities in the career path and never thought about emerging trends. She was aware that working in the Retail Marketing Department stored limited opportunities for her future growth, but did not have the guts to let it go. Laura met with Fred Trauman, the junior partner responsible for the training program at the investment advisory. Fred advised Laura to leave the Retail Marketing Department and join the investment advisory because she had higher chances of becoming a partner compared to other existing candidates (Bartolomé 6). Laura could not see the opportunity in the idea and claimed she would think about it. A person aiming at growing the career should be willing to take risks and undertake new challenges at all costs. Laura’s weakness only made her lose many chances.
On the other hand, Laura’s weakness revealed itself out of her fear of doing something different. She had worked under the guidance of David for long that she felt the guilt of disappointing him by undertaking a different career path. Career tactics assist an individual to come up with a competence-based approach to assessing expected outcomes in the present career path. Self-career management helps the person think ahead and come up with strategies of changing the career path without affecting others. David promised Laura she would take up his position when he leaves office, an idea that made Laura more dependent on David's ideas.
Job alternatives that Laura is contemplating today
Every individual must be mindful while making decisions that have the ability to change the rest of their lifestyle. Laura must decide between three job alternatives. These are to stay at retailing marketing, the move to investment advisory or to stay at retail marketing, but look for an alternative employment outside Concord.
Alternative 1: To stay at retail marketing
Laura has been working at the retail marketing department where she has gained more skills, experiences, and hierarchies with the assistance of David. She must evaluate the costs and benefits of staying in the same department or looking for an alternative.
Pros of staying in the retail marketing
Laura has since been enjoying many benefits while working with David in the retail marketing department. The working environment seems very comfortable because Laura rarely complains of any job challenges despite it being the most profitable department in the organization.
Pro 1: Laura gets to enjoy high salary with possibilities of an increment upon becoming the general manager of the Retail Marketing Department after David’s retirement.
Corresponding weight: The following pro carries a lot of weight because all that a person demands in employment is a big salary. Laura is already enjoying benefits of a senior employee in the organization with David organizing for a free drive back home after work and other incentives (Bartolomé 2).
The probability: The probability of Laura continuing enjoying the benefit lies with David. Senior managers in the department tend to think Laura only enjoys those benefits because of David since his management skills are not questionable. Laura is likely not to enjoy the benefits after David’s retirement if she stays at the Retail Marketing.
Pro 2: Laura has already developed a good rapport with clients in the Retail Marketing Department, and her stay would mean more contracts and high customer satisfaction; hence, an advantage to the firm.
Corresponding weight: The idea has a lot of weight because the retail marketing department brings the company more profits, which depends on the relationship between marketers and customers. The company will be much willing to retain Laura and maintain her salary and other benefits just to maintain its customers.
The probability of taking place: There is a high probability of the situation happening because Laura has a lot of experience in the retail marketing out of lessons and dedications from David, who pioneers every activity in the department. Additionally, the firm cannot risk losing Laura and recruiting another employee to the position because it would take long for customers to get used to the new voice and face; hence, a fall in profits.
Cons of Laura’s stay at the Retail Marketing Department
Con 1: Laura will not have an opportunity to grow and her continued stay at the current position her dormant and unproductive career wise. The department gives her no room to grow her career.
Corresponding weight: The weight of this argument is evidence when Laura claims that the department does not offer her any challenge because she keeps repeating same activities each day. Additionally, she complains that David never allows her to attend meetings where she can learn new capabilities.
Probability: The above con has a higher probability of happening because David will not change his management skills and Laura will remain in the same position waiting for her chance to replace David, which is minimal.
Con 2: Laura is uncertain of what might happen after David leaves the department. She will most likely not get a promotion.
Corresponding weight: The following disadvantage carries a lot of weight because it would be very disappointing for Laura to work all those years with David with a promise that she will become the overall manager only to fail at the last minute.
Probability: There is a high probability of the problem happening. Other employees claim that David Shields Laura from any danger. She claimed that senior partners in the Retail Marketing Department did not like David's management style and would put one of their own on the spot after his retirement (Bartolomé 5). The move may leave Laura out and desperate after many years of working in the department waiting for a promotion.
Alternative 2: To move to the investment advisory
Laura can decide to move to the investment advisory at Concord Investment Co.
Pros of moving to the investment advisory
Pro 1: It gives Laura an opportunity to build her career by meeting new challenges
Corresponding weight: Career development is all about changing the environment and meeting new challenges. Laura’s decision to move to the investment advisory will create more opportunities to grow her career without any fear of favor. Additionally, she will manage to take care of her decisions independently; hence, become more respected.
Probability: Fred, the one in charge of training at the investment advisory assured Laura of great opportunities in the department, including fewer frustrations, and a chance to practice skills learned from her MBA. Additionally, there are no barriers to entry in the investment advisory since Laura has all the qualifications.
Pro 2: Working on a higher salary and higher chances of making a partnership
Corresponding weight: Laura's salary at the Retail Marketing department is very high, and Fred promised to reduce her current salary by $20,000 just to create uniformity with other partners (Bartolomé 6). Moreover, Laura's experience in the organization and her qualifications makes increases her chances of making partnership within a short time; hence, increased salaries and better-working conditions.
Probability: Laura is already interested in joining the investment advisory out of her desire to study MBA. Additionally, she got an assurance from Fred that all will be well; hence, there is a higher probability that she will receive more pay and make a partnership.
Cons of moving to the investment advisory
Con 1: The time taken to make partnership was uncertain, and Laura may spend the rest of her career working as an associate.
Corresponding weight: Laura needed a place to practice her expertise and grow the career. However, the investment advisory holds many MBA graduates; hence, creating a big competition. A likelihood of the management favoring some employees over others is high.
Probability: The probability of the following situation, taking place is low considering Laura has a backup from Fred.
Con 2: Laura suffers a decrease in salary with more responsibilities
Corresponding weight: Laura used to receive a high salary far above the average of a normal associate in the investment advisory. Fred had already cautioned her that they would reduce the salary by $20,000. The reduction will affect Laura’s budget considering that employees at the investment advisory work for long hours while receiving less pay.
Probability: There is a high probability of the action occurring because Fred warned Laura of a salary cut upon entering the investment advisory.
Alternative 3: Staying at Retail Marketing Department while seeking for another job outside Concord
Laura may also try another opportunity outside the company by seeking employment in other firms.
Pros of the alternative
Pro 1: Laura already has a job security. If the job-hunt backfires, she can continue with her usual position at Concord.
Corresponding weight: Laura will not lose a lot if she does not secure a job outside, unlike when she resigns to go on job-hunt. The benefit also adds weight to Laura’s career by exposing her to challenges outside Concord and be in a position to compare different offers before making a final decision.
Probability: The probability of Laura losing her job at Concord is less because she only searches for other alternatives during her part-time. It would be difficult for David to realize Laura's intentions because it may lead to her immediate dismissal or lack of trust.
Pro 2: Laura can easily land in a better paying job that offers her a chance to grow and develop her career.
Weight: Laura has skills and experiences that any employer may need of an employee. Her stay in Concord Investment and relationship with David has equipped her with a lot of knowledge that she can use to market herself and land in a good paying job.
Probability: The probability of Laura getting another job outside Concord is very high. However, she may suffer because Concord management may fail to recommend her skills.
Cons of alternative three
Con 1: She may end up losing all her benefits at Concord including the promotion promised by David
Weight: There is evidence that David does not want to go Laura; hence, the organization may deny her any benefits when she resigns from her current position.
Probability: The probability of it happening is very low because only David was interested in Laura’s stay in the organization. Additionally, the government under the Department of Labor has laws protecting employees from harassment by the employer. Laura will be entitled to her full benefits if she decides to leave Concord Investment Co.
Recommended alternative
Employees look for an employment opportunity that offers benefits regarding payments, job security, satisfaction, and opportunities for growth. All three alternatives are important in Laura's career, but she should consider staying at the Retail Marketing Department while seeking employment from another firm. Laura has worked in the retail department for long, and as long as David is around, she does not have to worry about her job. She can comfortably look for another job opportunity outside Concord. On the other hand, Laura's duties in the retail marketing were the same each day from Monday to Friday. She already knew a schedule, and this gives her a better chance to seek other opportunities without the management's detection.
Laura's experience in the business profession is wonderful, and employers outside would fight to have her as part of their team. Hence, she should not worry about the salary because highly demanded employees dictate their figures. Looking for employment in another firm also helps Laura change the job environment, meet new team members, and new challenges that prepare her towards managing her career. Continuous changes in the business environment require professionals to keep the pace by changing work environment to suit their skills and demands (Athanasou and Raoul 320).
Works Cited
Athanasou, James A, and Raoul . Esbroeck. International Handbook of Career Guidance.
Dordrecht: Springer, 2008. Print.
Bartolomé, Fernando. “Laura Carpenter.” IE Business School. Madrid-Spain: IE Business
Publishing. 2014, May 14.
Patton, General George. Career tactics: Surviving and thriving in a difficult and unfair world.
