IELTS Writing | Only staff who have worked in a company for a long time should be promoted to higher positions
IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay
Some people think that only staff who have worked in a company for a long time should be promoted to higher positions. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
IELTS Essay | Only staff who have worked in a company for a long time should be promoted to higher positions
There are various factors to consider when deciding whether to promote a long-serving member of staff or appoint another member of staff with fewer years of service to a particular position. Or it may even be beneficial to recruit someone from outside the organization.
Irrespective of the number of years a staff member has worked for an organization, the overriding factor which should be taken into account is how the individual fits with the position which is open. Any promotion or appointment to a particular position should always be made based on the merits of the individuals in question and the requirements of the specific job. It may be the case that an employee who has worked in an organization for a long time possesses all the attributes, skills, and experience necessary to carry out the work effectively.
Alternatively, another member of staff may also possess the same skill set but have worked for the same organization for a lot less time. The question is – who is more qualified overall to take up the promotion and effectively do the work. In reality, the final selection may be based on personality, and who is psychologically more suited to the position, especially if both candidates have comparable experience, knowledge, and skills related to the job.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to promoting a younger employee: they may be more dynamic, have greater potential for many more years of service, and the return on investment if further job-related training is to be provided may tip the scales in their favor over an older employee who is more set in their ways and less able to handle stress, for example.
On the other hand, younger members of staff are, generally, highly mobile and may not anticipate spending many more years with the organization, whereas an older employee might be more inclined to commit to the organization for the remainder of their working life.
Overall, there is no one single correct answer to this conundrum. The professional and personal attributes of each candidate should be evaluated against those required for the job. Doing so will ensure that the most appropriate candidate is offered the promotion, regardless of the length of prior service with the organization.
IELTS Writing Band 9 Essay Criteria
| Task Achievement | Coherence & Cohesion | Lexical Resource | Grammatical Range & Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ fully satisfies all the requirements of the task ✔ clearly presents a fully developed response | ✔ uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention ✔ skilfully manages paragraphing | ✔ uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’ | ✔ uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’ |
How would you answer this IELTS Writing Test task 2 Essay Question about promotion at work?
- What evaluation factors would you choose?
- How valuable are years of experience with the same company?
- Is length of service important when considering a promotion?
IELTS Writing
Task 2 Essay Answer
Promoting long-serving staff can be beneficial as they know the business and work ethic inside out, so any promotion will only benefit them and their employer. However, the downside is that the person may be stuck in their ways. To succeed at a higher level, they may need to re-evaluate how they do things and innovate. Doing so will allow them to continue on an upward trajectory instead of stagnating in their current position.
On the other hand, recruiting someone from outside the organization to fill the role will bring a new approach and attitude to help the business. However, the downside of recruiting from outside is the risk of bringing in someone who might look good on their resume but turns out to be a poor performer after hiring.
One benefit of promoting from within for a higher position is institutional memory and experience. There is no learning curve or loss of knowledge, and the business continues with minimal disruption, with the new person upskilling as they go. The concern with promoting from within is that the people already employed in the company could feel threatened by these moves and take it out on co-workers.
There will always be a time where it makes sense to hire externally for an open position, either because you need someone who can fit into a specific role or because internal staff lacks the qualifications or experience required. There are risks associated with bringing in an external candidate, though, as they come with less knowledge of the structure and operations of the company. And, even if their joining the company is a success overall, it can be argued that there may be cultural clashes between them and existing staff which make life difficult for everyone involved.
In my opinion, I do not think long-serving staff should always receive a promotion to higher positions. The main reason for this is that they may not have the skills or knowledge for the role, despite their long service.