Survey Finds Career Pathing Tied to Job Satisfaction

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For workers, "show me the way" can be just as important as "show me the money," new research from Accountemps suggests. In the survey, more than half (54 percent) of workers interviewed said knowing their career path is very important to their overall job satisfaction. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of respondents feel this feedback is at least somewhat important.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 405 working adults 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.

Workers were asked, "How important is knowing your potential career path to your overall job satisfaction?" Their responses:

"Employees want to know how to get to that next rung on the career ladder," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies^®, 2^nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "Managers should ensure their staff see their potential to advance."

But workers need to make their interests known, too. "Employees should ask their managers what steps it will take to reach the next level at the organization," Messmer said.

Accountemps highlights five career-related questions employees should ask their managers:

1. Where do you see me going in the organization? Find out what your supervisor sees as your strengths and weaknesses, your potential to grow within the company and how long it will take to get there.
2. What additional development and education do I need? Your manager can recommend learning and training opportunities and help prepare you to advance.
3. Who should I be networking with -- internally and externally? Identify the key players inside and outside the organization who can provide career guidance and industry insight.
4. Is a mentor available? A mentor can provide hands-on guidance and insight into how to be successful and navigate organizational politics.
5. Are there new projects I can take on to expand my skill set? Volunteer to lead new initiatives to enhance your abilities and help prepare you for greater responsibilities.

About Accountemps

Accountemps has more than 350 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com. Follow Accountemps for workplace news at twitter.com/accountemps.

Accountemps recently produced a series of videos highlighting Bob from Accountemps, the fast, efficient, go-to accounting professional. Find out why Bob is so popular with his clients and coworkers alike in these humorous videos: www.accountemps.com/whoisbob.

SOURCE Accountemps

RELATED LINKS
http://www.accountemps.com