I have been working with my company for 19months and am interested in changing departments. Is that bad?

Question

I have been working with a (very large & international) company I love. I started out on the retail side after a year I went to the accounting side of the sales department. I don't really love the duties (don't hate it either) but I love the people I work with. My boss is the best supervisor I have ever worked for! A position opened up in Human Resources Recently which is what I really wanted to do when I started working here. I have only been with this department for 4 months. Would it be bad to apply for the department change. The salary would not change and FYI it has not in the entire time I have worked for the company!

Answer 1

In my opinion there are two significant things in your question; how long you have been in the department and the fact that you have not received a raise since you went with them over a year and a half ago.

Since you are working for a large company you should have gotten a copy of the employee handbook at the time you were hired.  The salary review policy should be described in the handbook.  The policy on requesting transfers MAY be described in the handbook.

If you are overdue for a review speak to your supervisor.  I have seen review schedules fall through the cracks more than once.  In most cases if a review is late raises will be retroactive to the time when the review should have been scheduled.

Talk to your supervisor about your situation.  Tell her/him that you want advice on what to do.  You like the company, you like your coworkers and you think very highly of your supervisor.  On the other hand you really wanted to be in HR and now there is an opening.  You are asking because you don't want to kill your career the company.

If your supervisor isn't satisfied with your performance she/he will breathe a sigh of relief, call HR, and tell them how great you would be.  On the other hand if your supervisor is satisfied he/she will either try to convince you to stay or help you get to where you want to be.

Hope this helps

Jerry-the-bookkeeper