Drawbacks of requesting a secondment

jaymo2010

There's a temporary position coming up in my department, and I'm considering applying for it as I'm really not enjoying the work that I'm doing at the moment. Although I would be working in the same department, I'd have a different line manager and I'd be working in a different team too (although ultimately I'd report into the same big boss)

Has anyone ever applied for an internal position as a secondment and how has it worked out?

I've never done or asked for one before, but is it likely that my position in my current team would come under threat because ultimately another individual would have to cover for me if I was successful in my application.

Savvy_Sue

The beauty of a secondment is that at the end of it, you have the right to return to your original role. So no, you shouldn't be under any threat, unless you would have been under threat even if you hadn't gone on secondment.

jaymo2010

I suppose I might be, as there has been a recent restructure and things are just settling down in my department.

I think I'll apply and see what happens, the more I think about it the more unreasonable it would be if my application (whether successful or not) impacted on my current role. After all, its still an internal application, i.e. I'm not looking to desert the company or even my department.... just my current team (temporarily)

t0rt0ise

Is it advertised specifically as a secondment? If so you will go back to your normal job afterwards, but if it's advertised simply as a temp contract then you would presumably be handing your notice in to your current job.

ohreally

Does your employer have a policy document on secondments, if so this would set out the state of play and provide you with some clarity.

I would proceed with caution though as I've seen secondments end in tears especially if the secondment becomes a long term affair and other folks are also in the secondment merry-go-round and positions subsequently become less clear as jobs go/ change.

jaymo2010

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Is it advertised specifically as a secondment? If so you will go back to your normal job afterwards, but if it's advertised simply as a temp contract then you would presumably be handing your notice in to your current job.

I've not seen 'secondment' within the job advert - I assumed that I could apply and state in my covering letter that I was looking at this as a secondment because it would give me greater experience within the dept, enhancing my skills, and understanding other business processes etc etc.

I've never applied for a secondment before, is this not how its done??

t0rt0ise

jaymo2010 wrote: »

I've never applied for a secondment before, is this not how its done??

It completely depends on your company. You need to find out before you apply, or at least before you get too far in the application process. For a secondment, your current department would have to agree.

paddyrg

If it is in your department, you may find you get torn between your old and new roles as they try to get someone to cover for you (or replace you) - so don't bother unless you are located in a physically different place! Also, what happens when this temp job finishes and they already have a replacement for you in the old job? That's you looking at being out of work...probably not the desired outcome!!

getmore4less

Talk to your current manager, the manager of the potential position and potentialy the overall boss.

Don't do directly to the application proccess.

If they are any good they should have allready thought about a shuffle of current employees especialy if there has allready been some recent restructure.

Savvy_Sue

OK, so this isn't planned as a secondment at this stage, could be worth asking for that, but no guarantees so far. Does your employer do secondments in some circumstances?

Good advice from others.