This study empirically investigates how the assignment of a first workplace upon entry influences the long-term career outcomes of employees in a public enterprise. Specifically, it examines the differential career trajectories based on whether the in...
This study empirically investigates how the assignment of a first workplace upon entry influences the long-term career outcomes of employees in a public enterprise. Specifically, it examines the differential career trajectories based on whether the initial assignment was to headquarters or a branch office, focusing on three key indicators: promotion status, time required for promotion, and the ratio of headquarters experience over total career duration.
The analysis targets administrative officers among general employees who joined the organization between 1987 and 2015. Using logistic regression and linear regression models, the study finds that employees initially assigned to headquarters were significantly more likely to be promoted across all three promotion levels (Grade 3, 2, and 1) compared to those assigned to branch offices. In particular, those from headquarters were approximately 2.4 times more likely to be promoted to Grade 2 and 3.7 times more likely to be promoted to Grade 3.
Regarding promotion duration, Grade 1 promotions occurred significantly faster for those assigned to headquarters, with an average difference of approximately 1.6 years. While the differences in time to promotion for Grade 2 and Grade 3 were not statistically significant, employees initially placed in headquarters tended to be promoted about six months earlier to Grade 2. Additionally, employees whose first workplace was headquarters had a significantly higher proportion of headquarters experience throughout their careers, indicating that initial assignment plays a structural role in shaping one’s career path and job placement.
These findings suggest that differences in early organizational socialization—such as access to networks and experience in core tasks—have a meaningful impact on career success, including promotion likelihood, promotion speed, and overall career trajectory. Particularly in public organizations, first workplace assignment functions as an institutional mechanism that not only determines short-term operational efficiency but also shapes long-term career opportunities and direction.
Therefore, organizations must adopt a strategic approach to initial placement that accounts not only for immediate staffing needs but also for equity and diversity in long-term career development. To mitigate disparities in opportunity structures between headquarters and branch offices, it is necessary to ensure fair access to developmental opportunities such as job rotation, training, and mentoring, as well as to secure objectivity in promotion evaluation criteria.
While this study is limited to quantitative analysis of administrative staff in a single public enterprise, future research should include comparative analyses across diverse organizations—including local public enterprises, quasi-governmental agencies, and private firms—and incorporate qualitative variables such as job type, personal career management capacity, and organizational culture. Additionally, future studies should consider multiple indicators of career success, including core job experience, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, to build a more comprehensive understanding of effective HR management and career development policies in the public sector.