MRINetwork, one of the world's largest
search and recruitment organizations, commissioned a study with
Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) to explore the career paths of
today's professional workforce. The study is based on 200 telephone
interviews with Human Resource directors or senior executives in
the United States and 200 interviews with Human Resource directors
or senior executives in the United Kingdom.
According to those surveyed, by the sixth year
in the middle-management level, most companies in the U.S. have
already decided whether a middle manager has senior-level potential
or has become a "career" middle manager. In the U.K., however, the
timeframe is even more accelerated, as the study revealed that most
middle managers have only four years to advance to the senior level.
The study, also determined that "career" middle managers are seen
as critical to the success of the company.
As a result of the study's findings, MRINetwork
has determined that middle managers who aspire to senior positions
must carefully evaluate their career choices at the six year mark,
including the possibility of moving on to a new company or positioning
themselves more aggressively as a senior manager within their own
company.
Additionally as the study found that the majority
of surveyed companies promote to the senior level from within, companies
hiring middle managers are advised to fully evaluate each candidate's
potential for eventually ascending to the senior level. These candidates
represent the heart of the organization and its future senior leadership.
Hiring managers must look beyond the immediate needs of the business
and requirements of the open position to determine if each individual
is a worthy, long-term senior management prospect.
Following are some of the study's highlights:
- According to the executives polled, companies
in the U.S. and the U.K. tend to have people in junior positions
for about 5 years, middle management positions about 7 years and
senior management positions about 8.5 years. However, those polled
feel that it is acceptable to move on to another job after only
3 years in junior, 4 years in mid level and 5 years in senior
positions. As an employee moves on in his or her career, frequent
job changes become less tolerated, therefore middle and senior
managers must be more analytical in regards to their career choices.
Average Number of Years in Management Positions
When Is It Okay for Junior Candidates to Move
On?
When Is It Okay for Mid level Candidates to Move
On?
When Is It Okay for Senior Candidates to Move
On?
- The average length of time a middle manager
can stay at the same level before being seen as a "career" middle
manager is slightly over 5 years in the U.S. and slightly under
5 years in the U.K. This relatively brief period of time indicates
that middle managers must make a strong impact within their organizations
immediately, if they wish to rise to senior leadership.
How Long Before Being Perceived as Career Middle
Manager?
