Job Transfer
Job transfer is the process in which a worker shifts from one job to another. The job to which the worker shifts is at the same hierarchical level as the previous job of the worker. Transfer can also happen when an employee is transferred from one department to another within the same organization or from one branch to another branch of the same organization. In the fast-paced business world job, transfers are quite common and may result from several professional or personal factors. This article provides detailed information about the Internal Job Transfer Process.
Factors leading to a Job transfer
The various factors that may play an important role in the transfer of workers are discussed below-
- Job transfers enable business organizations to place an employee where the services of an employee are most needed. In case more vacancies arise in one department, such vacancies can be fulfilled through transfers from the department having surplus employees.
- Employees may also request for job transfer owing to personal reasons such as to be with their family after getting a transfer at a location that is in proximity to their homes.
- Job transfers can also be used to provide much-needed relief from boredom to the employees.
- Some organizations may use job transfer as a means of disciplinary action.
Importance of Job transfers
The concept of job transfer plays an important role in the business world. Some of the points that reflect the importance of job transfers are enlisted below –
- Job transfers help the business organizations to adjust the employees according to the changing work requirements of the organizations.
- Job transfers also serve as an important tool to enhance the effectiveness of the business organizations by developing more suitable teams by placing specific workers together.
- In case the business organization makes any mistake in the selection and placement of a candidate, Job transfers can be used to rectify these mistakes.
- Job transfers help to promote transparency in the operations of the business organization.
Internal Job transfer
Internal job transfer is a type of transfer in which an employee in the organization assumes a new job role with new responsibilities. The employee shifts from working within a team in one department to a new team and new department. Internal job transfer enables the employees to look for alternative career options by joining new roles in the same organization. So internal job transfer simply gives an employee a new job in the same organization. The various features of an internal job transfer are discussed below-
- Internal job transfer saves the time of employee as the process is quite time-saving as compared to if an employee leaves the job and looks for a new work opportunity.
- Employees are already familiar with the work culture and policies of the organization. So employees placed at a job through internal job transfer will take relatively less time to settle at their jobs as compared to newly hired candidates.
- Employees assuming a new role within the same organization generally are eligible to obtain the same level of pay and employee benefits as their previous role in the organization.
- Business organizations also benefit from internal job transfer as the organization does not lose its employees to some other firm. The employees stay with the organization and provide their services to the organization in a new role. So internal job transfer does not increase the labor turnover rate.
- Employees who get the new role according to their interest and preference using internal Job transfer will work with complete dedication and commitment to achieve the goals and objectives related to their new job.
Process of internal job transfer
Internal transfer of an employee generally involves the following steps –
- Identifying the opportunity – The first step in the process of an internal transfer starts with an employee identifying an opening of a job position in the organization for which the employee may be interested in applying. The employee should scrutinize the various roles and responsibilities of the new job opening and assess whether he or she can match these responsibilities and achieved the required performance level of the new role. So conducting an internal job search may be a challenging task for the employee, but it should be done with great care so that the employee does not regret initiating the internal job transfer.
- Applying for the job position – After identifying the job opening, the employee shall apply for the job position. This involves informing the concerned officials about the employee’s wish to be internally transferred to a new role. Some business organizations provide specific eligibility criteria to decide whether the employee is eligible to be internally transferred or not. This criterion may be based on factors such as length of tenure of an employee with the organization in the current role, and job performance in the current role. So, the employee interested in a job opening shall inform the hiring manager about the same. Employees may also discuss their intention with their immediate supervisor and the manager of their team. The employee may explain to his or her superior about the reasons to choose another role in the organization.
- Job application – Employees shall submit the job application for the new role and submit their updated resume along with the application.
- Job interview- After receiving the job application of the employee, the human resource manager evaluates the job application and the suitability of the employee for the job opening. If the candidate is found suitable and eligible for the job position, the candidate will be interviewed. The interview may be conducted by a single interviewer or a panel of interviews. In the interview number of questions may be asked to the candidate about the reasons regarding the request for the job transfer. If the employee successfully clears the interview, the job offer will be provided to the employee.
- Job offer and joining – After the successful interview, the hiring manager provides the employee with a job offer letter which Conrad the date of joining and the various roles and responsibilities of the new job. The employee shall join the official duties of the new job as per the date mentioned in the job offer letter.
Conclusion- To conclude it can be said that internal job transfer provides the employees working in the organization to safely change their career path if they want to do so. Moreover, it also enables the employees to gain skills and knowledge related to different job roles, which enhances the overall value of the employee. The internal job transfer is affected by how a business organization looks at the internal mode of recruitment to fill in a vacant job position. Employees looking forward to being internally transferred must ensure that their performance in their current role is up to the mark. This will help the employee to be in the good books of the organization and increases the chance of being internally transferred.
Frequently asked questions
Question 1. What advantages do the internal sources of recruitment provide to the organization?
Answer 1. If the business organization chooses the internal mode of recruitment over the external mode, it can reap the following benefits from this mode –
- The business organization does not need to spend huge amounts on advertising for recruiting new employees for job vacancies. So internal mode of recruitment is considered as a cost-effective option.
- The time consumed in recruiting employees through the internal mode of recruitment is much less than the external mode of recruitment. Internally recruited employees are aware of the work culture and policies of the organization, make it easier for them to settle in their new job role.
- If the employees are recruited internally, the company can save a large chunk of money that otherwise would have been spent on the training and orientation of externally recruited employees.
- Internal recruitment can also be a source of motivation for the existing workforce of the organization.
Question 2. Can the organization reject the employee’s request for an internal job transfer?
Answer 2. Yes, the organization is in a position to reject the employee’s internal job transfer request. The rejection may be based on several factors such as –
- In case the business organization feels that the vacant job position cannot be filled by the employee from the organization. The request of an employee may be declined.
- If the record of the employee in the current job role is not as per the expectations of the organization. The organization may not grant transfer to such employees unless they achieve significant progress in their current role.
Question 3. What is a safer alternative for an employee looking to switch career paths- leaving the current job and looking for a new job or seeking an internal transfer to a new job role?
Answer 3. In terms of financial security, internal job transfer is a much feasible option than leaving the job and looking for new work because looking for a new job involves a lot of time and effort, whereas internal job transfer is a relatively quick process. Also, internal job transfer enables the employee to stay and serve the organization in which he or she has been working for a long time.
