'SHOW ME THE WAY' - Survey Finds Career Pathing Tied to Job Satisfaction

TORONTO, Aug. 15 /CNW/ - For workers, "show me the way" can be just as important as "show me the money," new research from Accountemps suggests. In the survey, nearly four out of 10 (39 per cent) workers interviewed said knowing their career path is very important to their overall job satisfaction. Nearly half (48 per cent) of respondents feel this feedback is at least somewhat important.

The Canadian survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialised staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 279 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:

    <<
    Very important....................   39%
    Somewhat important................   48%
    Not too important.................   10%
    Not at all important..............    3%
                                      ------
                                        100%
    >>

"Discussing career options is a great opportunity to demonstrate to employees that the company values their work and is committed to helping them grow in their careers," said Kathryn Bolt, Canadian president of Accountemps. "Managers should ensure their staff clearly sees their potential to advance and take on increasing responsibility within the organisation."

But, workers need to make their interests known too. "Professionals should spell out their goals and aspirations to their managers, so they can map out how to advance within the company."

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

    <<
    1. Where do you see me going in the organisation? 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/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 organisation 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 organisational
       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