Temporary reassignments

A secondment can be a great way to pick up new skills, forge connections and try new roles. But there are downsides too.

Why go on a secondment?

“They’re a chance to see more of the organisation – or, if you go to an external company, a way to build an entirely new network,” says career coach Corinne Mills.

Secondments can be an opportunity to pick up new skills and get out of your comfort zone. They are also often the means by which organisations give high-flyers exposure to different parts of the business – so being sent on one may be a vote of confidence.

Finally, says Ms Mills: “If you know your department is under threat, they can be a lifeboat. You might take a secondment with a view to making a play for a permanent role.”

How do I plan?

“Secondments work best when their purpose is clear,” says Ian Gooden, chief operating officer of the human resources consultancy Chiumento. “If it’s vague, you often get no real value out of them. Both parties need to know how they fit into your career planning.”

Barrie Hopson, a psychologist and author of And What Do You Do?, says: “List what you want from the experience and get the expectations of the manager you’ll be seconded to. Ask for a job description and look at the skills and experience you have and the ones you’d like to develop. What’s the match like? A lot of people just say ‘Yes’ without thinking.”

But t he really critical part, Mr Gooden says, is what happens when the secondment is over. “No one thinks about this – often it just happens.”

What are the pitfalls?

“Be careful,” cautions Ms Mills. “Although you’re ‘on loan’ and your role stays open, your colleagues will close the gap and divide it up. In austerity, a secondment can be a way of seeing how a [smaller] team copes. Beware of hidden agendas.”

The length of time you are away is important: if it is six months or more it may be wise to think you might not return. If you are out of sight of your old team, says Mr Hopson, you should try to ensure you are not out of mind. “Make an effort to stay in touch. It can be difficult to reintegrate if you don’t.”

Mr Gooden warns that you need to watch your own expectations, too. “It can be a bit like being lent a high-end BMW when your car is in the garage. The secondment can be a bigger, more exciting job – and you may even get a temporary pay rise.”

But after that, he explains, you have to go back to normal.

How do I say no?

“If you don’t want to do it, saying no can be quite risky,” says Mr Hopson. “It can make you look very unambitious.”

You may be able to defuse this by making other suggestions or asking if there are any alternatives but “if you really don’t want to do it, you might be wrong for the company”.

The writer is the author of ‘The Careerist: Over 100 ways to get ahead at work’