©Shutterstock.com It’s a new year and there’s a new workplace buzzword in play: quiet hiring . What is it and what does it involve? Most important: How can you take advantage of it if it happens to you?
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First, let’s define quiet hiring.
“Quiet hiring is when executives decide that employees must work in other roles or departments that may or may not be associated with their current job description to meet a current critical need in the organization,” said Dr. Wanita Mercer, founder and CEO of Lead My Heart Executive Coaching and Consulting . “Or, a business may choose to hire contractors to outsource essential tasks to [reduce or eliminate] costs of onboarding, training and benefits associated with full-time employees.
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“Unlike what the term depicts, when organizations choose to ‘quiet hire’ for new skills or increased performance, they are not actually hiring employees. They are simply reassigning them. Examples of quiet hiring include mandating that a customer service manager devotes a portion of their day to answering or making customer service calls or mandating that an employee who works in the admissions office at a university work in the financial aid office during peak periods.”
If you’re an employee who finds yourself reassigned to a new position that may or may not be associated with your current job, how can you take advantage of the situation to further advance in your career? Let’s have a look. Get Clarity
“No one wants to feel pulled in 20 different directions,” said Jenn Lim , CEO of Delivering Happiness and Wall Street Journal-bestselling author of “Beyond Happiness.”
“So if an organization is trying to quiet hire you, it’s important to get clarification on what this new role will look like, as well as what, if any, responsibilities you will carry over from your current position. Stretching yourself too thin and keeping too many plates spinning will land you in burnout-frustration mode.” Have an Open Dialogue With Your Boss
“Talk with your employer about your expectations and concerns,” said Emma Salveson, a founder of The Hub Events . “Make sure you understand the terms of the temporary assignment or reassignment, including how long it is expected to last and what your responsibilities will be. Try setting some criteria for success so that you and everyone else know how you thrived in that role.” Bring Up Compensation and/or Flexible Hours
“If new responsibilities are more involved than your current role, know your worth,” said Vicki Salemi , career expert for Monster . “Do external research to determine what the job pays — talk to industry insiders, former bosses and colleagues who work at competitors and more — and then schedule a meeting with your boss to see if a pay increase is possible.
“If your boss hires someone externally for the same role, there’s a considerable amount of ramp-up time to learn the role and assimilate to the culture — and, since you’re internal, that’s a moot point,” Salemi continued. “If your boss says no to increasing your salary, ask for this — how you stepped up to the plate when asked — to be strongly taken into account during the annual salary review process. Also, ask about one-time bonuses perhaps in the form of a spot award.
“You may also want to talk about flexible hours or a more flexible schedule,” Salemi said. “If you’re being told you’re moving into another role, even if it’s not your desire, talk to your boss about the concessions that you’re making. Perhaps there’s a global weekly meeting that’s at 7 a.m. — speak to your boss about perhaps changing your hours so that day you can work from home and stop working at 3 p.m.” Ask About Training and Mentoring
“How will you get up to speed in the new role? Will you shadow someone? Will there be online training, etc.?” Salemi said. “Inquire about how you can succeed in the role. Engage in a healthy dialogue with your boss so you’re provided with resources, support and training to succeed. Learning is always a good thing.” Take This Opportunity To Learn
“If you’re still new to the workforce or have been considering a […]