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National Workforce Survey Finds Over a Third of Americans Feel Trapped in Their Careers
[May 28, 2015]

National Workforce Survey Finds Over a Third of Americans Feel Trapped in Their Careers


The Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University, a leading executive MBA program for working managers, today released findings from its national workforce survey, which was conducted to determine how employees perceive their managers, careers, and workplace culture. Based on the survey, 31 percent of professionals say they have been passed over for a promotion they feel they deserved. In addition, they believe that in order to earn a promotion, they must perform at a high level (54 percent), have a strong work ethic (51 percent), exhibit leadership skills (43 percent), and take on additional responsibility (36 percent) - more so than participating in training or classes to advance their skills (13 percent).

"This is an alarming find," said Dr. Andrea Backman, dean of the Jack Welch Management Institute. "Although today's professionals can identify what they need to do to earn a promotion, they don't have enough information about how to do it. This missing link creates a huge opportunity for those employees who commit to their career with energy, intellectual curiosity and a drive to succeed versus those who do not."

For professionals who feel they have been passed over for a promotion, Backman emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, particularly around job expectations and job delivery, as well as having candid conversations about performance and identifying concrete skill-building activities. Specific questions that she recommends professionals ask include:

  • Where have I under-delivered and over-delivered on my job recently?
  • Have I expanded my assigned responsibilities beyond what was expected of me?
  • What agenda do I own, and how does my agenda contribute to the organization's larger goals?
  • Do I look for ways to assist and grow my colleagues or team, and how?
  • Are there things I can do to work better, smarter or faster?
  • How am I demonstrating the breadth and depth of my business knowledge to my organization?
  • What skills am I lacking and what short- and long-term steps can I take to develop them?
  • Am I hungry to learn more about everything to ensure I stay out in front of what is happening in my business, my industry, my country, the world?
  • Am I growing every day as an individual and as an employee?

"Once you've done this reflection and checked in at a 360-degree level - meaning you have completed a self-evaluation and gathered feedback from your supervisor, subordinates, and colleagues - it is important that you create and execute an imediate plan of action with the information," said Backman. "If you don't approach your career with energy, guts, determination, and urgency, then a promotion is not likely in your future. At the same time, it is important to do this type of self- career assessment whether you have been passed over for a promotion or not. Everyone can benefit from identifying areas of improvement and pursuing feedback and solutions regularly."



The Jack Welch Management Institute offers an online executive MBA program, as well as intensive executive certificate programs. Based on the singular business insights of world-renowned CEO and management icon Jack Welch, the Institute's offerings are designed to provide students and organizations with the proven methodologies, immediately actionable practices, and respected credentials needed to win in the most demanding global business environments. To learn more about the Jack Welch Management Institute, visit http://jackwelch.strayer.edu or follow @JackWelchMBA on Twitter.

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.@JackWelchMBA releases national workforce survey. A third of Americans feel trapped in their careers.

.@JackWelchMBA workforce survey finds Americans can name skills needed for promotion but don't know how to get them. Via @andreabackman1

***MEDIA NOTE: To speak with Andrea Backman, please contact Cristina Henley at [email protected], work: (703) 561-1913, or cell: (703) 431-3691.

Research conducted by Ipsos

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University from January 9-15, 2015. For the survey, 1,795 U.S. adults age 18 and over were interviewed online, including 1,198 respondents who work for a professional/corporate organization. The precision of the Strayer/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points for all adults. Survey findings marked with an asterisk (*) in this release indicate findings for which an audience is significantly higher than the corresponding group.

About The Jack Welch Management Institute

The core mission of the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University is to provide students and organizations with the proven methodologies, immediately actionable practices, and respected credentials needed to win in the most demanding global business environments. By teaching the performance and people-driven management canon of Jack Welch and other renowned business leaders, the Jack Welch Management Institute prepares Executive MBA and Executive Certificate program graduates to transform their companies and careers. For more information, please visit http://jackwelch.strayer.edu.

About Strayer University

Strayer University has been in operation since 1892, and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business administration, accounting, economics, information systems, information technology, human resource management, education, health services administration, public administration, management and criminal justice to working adult students. The University includes Strayer@Work, which serves corporate clients by delivering the next generation of performance improvement and workforce development. Strayer University also offers an executive MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute. For more information, visit www.strayer.edu or call 1-888-4-STRAYER (888-478-7293).


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