The use of career ladders in organizations has been around for many decades. It originated in the military, where a clear career progression was essential for leadership development ensuring that the most qualified individuals were promoted to higher positions. Over time, the concept of career ladders was adopted by private sector organizations and has since become a common practice in many industries. This is especially true in organizations that have very hierarchical and narrowly designed roles.

Clarity

Career ladders provide employees with a better understanding of what they need to do to advance their careers.

Motivation

Career ladders can be a motivator for employees who are looking to advance in their careers. They provide steps employees can take for advancement, which can encourage employees to work harder and strive to improve their skills.

Retention

Having a career ladder in place can help organizations retain their top talent. When employees see a path or know there are opportunities for career advancement within an organization, they are more likely to stay with the organization long term.

Imprecision

If too prescriptive, career ladders can be rigid and inflexible. Employees may feel constrained by the structure of a career ladder that is too specific and may be discouraged from pursuing alternative career paths within the organization. JMU offers a variety of suggestions to employees who want to take action to create a greater likelihood of upward mobility.

Discouragement of Creativity

Very specific career ladders could discourage creativity and innovation. Employees may feel that they need to conform to the structure of a career ladder to advance in their careers, which can stifle creative thinking and risk taking. The resources available at JMU allow employees to be creative in how they pursue a path to their next job.

Possible unmet expectations

While each organization and employee are different, JMU provides resources and flexibility that can help employees prepare themselves to the greatest degree possible.  Possessing the appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities when the desired job opens up, dramatically increases one’s chances for promotion.  Of course, others may be vying for the same position and external candidates may come armed with stronger qualifications and experiences. 

Career ladders can provide many benefits to organizations and their employees, such as clarity, motivation, and retention. However, they can also be imprecise, discourage creativity, and lead to unmet expectations. JMU provides resources and opportunities for employees to explore career options that bring the possibility of promotion within reach.

JMU is more like a small city than a company that sells a single line of products. For example, JMU primarily focuses on educating students, but also has a police force, retail stores, dining facilities, residence halls, an information technology department, construction staff, groundskeeping staff, housekeeping staff, maintenance operations, a motor pool, an athletic department, fund raising groups, student recruitment and more. While the number of vastly different disciplines presents opportunities for employees, it also poses challenges that make it more difficult to devise simple and straightforward career ladders.  

The great variety of disciplines actually presents opportunities for all employees. This is especially true given that similar positions exist in all disciplines and many skills learned in one discipline can be transferred to another.

JMU provides many opportunities for advancement for employees who are willing to set their sights on a goal, enhance their skills, and do the work required to accomplish their objective.

The beauty of our campus, the popularity of JMU, the fantastic facilities, and the dynamic growth we have experienced, make JMU a great place to work. In recent years, JMU has experienced record levels of employee retirements, as have many other organizations. During the pandemic, labor pools shrunk around the country and the world. These changes, along with our institution’s growth, have presented numerous opportunities for employees to seek new jobs and careers without leaving JMU. So, how can JMU employees position themselves for that next fulfilling job or career move?

Center for Faculty Innovation (CFI)

CFI provides comprehensive professional development opportunities for JMU faculty at all levels and stages of their careers. CFI initiatives support innovations in teaching, scholarship, career planning, and organizational development. The CFI is led by instructional faculty, staff, faculty associates, and students. The CFI pursues its vision through collaborative partnerships with the JMU community by implementing and assessing a range of scholarly-based programs. Further, the CFI embraces issues that transcend the individual faculty role, striving to make meaningful contributions to local dialogues and global dynamics.

Talent Development Department (TD)

TD provides professional development opportunities for classified staff and A&P Faculty by offering instructor-led courses, hybrid courses, online Linked-In Learning courses, certificate courses, learning series courses, and a resource collection of books that can be checked out. Talent Development also provides advice about what courses to take to reach specific goals and where to find other non-JMU resources. Most courses that TD offers are tied to their custom competency model that can help guide employees to enhance their knowledge and skills toward what is required to be a successful JMU employee. TD also has training funds available if employees want to take a professional development course that is not offered at JMU. All these resources can be found on the TD website.

JMU Libraries

JMU Libraries provides expertise in educational technologies, instructional design, digital projects, research, information literacy, scholarly communications, classroom technology, and so much more. They also manage physical and online collections to support research and teaching. When using their website, it is easy to access their resources for faculty, students, staff, graduate students, or visitors.

IT Training

IT Training offers a wide variety of computer and software related courses. To register for courses, employees go to MyMadison and log in using their eID and password. In the Employee Tab, under Training, employees may select Request Training Enrollment.  Full instructions can be found here.

Courses with an * after the title are Administrative Assistant Certificate Program (AACP) courses.  Courses with a ^ after the title are Advanced AACP courses. Courses with a + after the title are available in LinkedIn Learning.

At JMU, people are our most important asset. In fact, JMU’s commitment to professional growth for all faculty and staff is outlined in the core qualities and goals of its Strategic Plan. Therefore, JMU invests heavily in the professional development of its employees in the following ways:

Tuition Reimbursement

In support of the university's commitment to professional development of faculty and staff, the university may authorize reimbursement to full-time employees for the tuition of work-related education or for the costs of certain work-related training programs taken at other institutions.

The purpose of the JMU tuition reimbursement program is to train employees with (a) work-related education in the use of new or modified equipment, (b) work-related education in skills and knowledge required by changes in current positions, (c) work-related education that maintains or improves skills required in the job, or (d) work-related education to meet degree requirements in a program for which the employee is enrolled and the university does not offer an equivalent course.

Review these related policies for more information and procedures for accessing available resources:

Policy 1401 - Work-Related Education or Training from an External Source

Policy 1402 - Waiver of Tuition Program for Faculty and Staff Course Work at JMU

Professional Development Opportunities:

Review Policy 1403 - A&P Faculty and Classified Staff Training & Development

Advancing in your career at JMU often requires a combination of hard work, skill development, and strategic career planning. It’s more than taking a long list of training courses that may or may not have relevance to the job you desire. Here are suggested steps you can use if you want to get promoted:

Set Clear Goals - Consider your existing skills and experiences. Look for jobs at JMU that align with your existing skills and JMU’s needs. The more clearly you define your goals, the better; however, overly specific goals can cause you to overlook suitable job opportunities. Sometimes it’s best to be open to considering a couple of possible future jobs.

Understand Expectations - Make sure you have a clear understanding of the responsibilities, skills, and competencies required for the desired promotion. This may involve reviewing job descriptions, talking to current employees in that role, and discussing expectations with supervisors. You could also speak to an HR Consultant who is assigned to the department where your desired position is located.

Assess Current Skills - You should critically evaluate your current skills and competencies against those required for the target position. Identify any gaps, and begin to develop a specific plan for filling these gaps through training, workshops, or further education.

Seek Honest Feedback - Regularly seek feedback from supervisors, colleagues, and mentors whom you trust. Constructive criticism can be a huge help, but you have to be open to that criticism. Don’t surround yourself with encouraging people who aren’t willing to be brutally honest with you. Identify areas where improvement is needed. 

Take Initiative - Promotions often go to individuals who go above and beyond their current role. Take on additional responsibilities, lead projects, volunteer to help out, or propose innovative ideas that contribute to the organization's success.

Network and Build Relationships - Building strong relationships within the JMU community can create opportunities for visibility and mentorship. Try to engage with colleagues across departments and levels. At times, this may require support from your supervisor. It’s acceptable to tell your supervisor you are interested in growing at JMU and want to learn more to help ensure your success.

Demonstrate Leadership - Leadership skills are crucial for advancement. The best way to demonstrate leadership is to show initiative, take ownership of tasks, and exhibit qualities such as problem-solving, decision-making, and effective communication.

Show Adaptability - The ability to adapt to change and take on new challenges is highly regarded. You should embrace change, learn new skills, and be flexible in your approach to work.

Show Results - Promotions are often based on proven results and contributions. Keep track of and quantify your accomplishments, then showcase their impact on the organization's goals or the goals you have accomplished in your current job.

Seek Professional Development - Engage in continuous learning and skill building. This could involve attending workshops, obtaining relevant certifications, and staying updated on industry trends as well as volunteering for new projects or assignments. As noted, JMU provides resources to help you obtain professional development.

Build a Personal Brand - Develop a positive personal brand (and reputation) by consistently delivering high-quality work, demonstrating professionalism, and showcasing your expertise with humility.

Create a Promotion Proposal - Prepare a well-thought-out promotion proposal that highlights your achievements, skills, and reasons for deserving the promotion. This can be presented to your supervisor, a future supervisor, or HR, and can be used as an outline to prepare for the job interview for the position you are seeking.

Engage in Regular Check-Ins with your Supervisor, Manager or a Mentor - Have regular discussions with your supervisor or manager to track your progress, discuss your career goals, and receive guidance on how to achieve your promotion.

Stay Persistent and Patient - The path to a promotion might not be immediate. It requires consistent effort, dedication, and patience. We encourage you to persevere even if you face setbacks. The people who are most prepared when the right job comes around are most likely to get what they want.