job assignment mean

• English | en
• Spanish | ES
• French | FR
• German | DE
• Portuguese | PT
• Chinese | ZH
• Japanese | JA

5 Ways to Manage a Job Reassignment

Instead of laying people off, organizations are increasingly giving them new job assignments. How to manage what can be a jarring professional change.

For More Expert Insights

Associate Principal, Advisory

Senior Client Partner, North America

Career Coach, Korn Ferry Advance

Career & Leadership Coach, Senior Consultant

Career & Leadership Coach, Korn Ferry Advance

U.S. companies announced 42% fewer layoffs in July than in June, and 8% fewer cuts than in July of 2022. The underlying reason is unexpected, however: while companies are continuing to eliminate jobs, they’re often reassigning workers to new roles instead of laying them off. Experts believe this trend could continue.

“Chances are, these are the types of changes we can expect to see over time, whether it’s due to new technology, like AI, or economic trends,” says Korn Ferry Advance coach Frances Weir .

While it can be difficult for employees to suddenly step into a new role and work with a new manager and team, experts say reassignment can have an upside. It offers employees an opportunity to learn new skills and bolster their résumé. For instance, if you’re moved onto a team that is underresourced and needs help, there’s an opportunity for you to make notable contributions that could earn you recognition, says Mark Royal , a senior client partner for Korn Ferry Advisory.

Since a reassignment can potentially be advantageous, it’s worth considering what steps to take to help you adjust. Here are five ways to adapt to a job reassignment.

Manage your emotions.

Reassignments are often unexpected, so it’s important to take a step back from your emotions. It’s normal to feel surprise, anger, or a loss of control, Royal says. But making an immediate, emotional decision—like quitting immediately—could wind up being detrimental to your long-term career.

Be diplomatic with your manager and get ready for the new assignment. At the same time, do some self-reflection. “Understand why you feel this way, and know that if you choose to stay, it doesn’t have to be forever,” Weir says.

Treat it like a new job.

As with any new position, making a good impression during your first 90 days is important, says Alyson Federico, a career coach at Korn Ferry Advance. “No matter how familiar you already are with the team or your new manager, don’t make assumptions that you know what’s going on or what you’re supposed to do,” she says.

Remember that your relationship with these colleagues will evolve. Ask questions to understand expectations about deliverables and responsibilities, how the team communicates, and how you fit into the group, Federico says. Make sure you have a clear sense of how your new team defines success.

Determine the reassignment’s length.

“Is this an open-ended shift, or has it been presented as a short-term assignment with some expectation of other opportunities down the road?” Royal says.

Ask your manager whether there will be a probationary period. Determine how much grace you will get before you’re expected to be a full contributor. Ask if there’s an onboarding process to help you get up to speed.

Stay optimistic.

Your new role and new department might provide an opportunity to build additional skills for your résumé and provide future career options. “You might stumble into something you’re really good at that you were previously unaware of, or perhaps land on a team you really enjoy working with, or discover a new career interest,” says Tiffinee Swanson , a Korn Ferry Advance career coach.

Remind yourself that even though your old role was eliminated, your company decided to keep you. That is a strong signal that your organization values you and your work, Royal says.

Consider the role’s fit.

Even if the role seems to be a poor fit for your skills, you might consider staying if you can see a career path within the company where the fit might be better, Royal says.

Give it some time, experts say. However, if it continues to be a struggle, it’s OK to leave, especially if you have another job offer, you’re offered a severance package, or you’re burned out and don’t have energy to make a change to a reassigned role.

“The best insurance against job loss, or ending up in a position you don’t like, is consistent networking, keeping your résumé and LinkedIn profile up-to-date, and staying abreast of trends in your industry,” says Val Olson , a career coach at Korn Ferry Advance. 

For more expert career advice, connect with a career coach at  Korn Ferry Advance .

Read more This Week in Leadership articles

Related articles

This week in leadership (apr 8 - apr 14), 5 ways to bridge the age gap at work, insights to your inbox.

Stay on top of the latest leadership news with This Week in Leadership—delivered weekly and straight into your inbox.

Recent articles

The work AI hype train runs head-first into reality. Plus, workers admit to literally sleeping on the job.

With at least four generations working at once, colleagues struggle to get along. Some tips.

Sleeping on the Job, Literally

One-third of employees take at least one nap during the workday every week. What the trend signals to employers.

AI: Is Reality Setting In?

Companies talk big about artificial intelligence, but new US data shows only 5% use it to produce or deliver goods.

• Capabilities
• Business Transformation
• Organization Strategy
• Total Rewards
• Assessment & Succession
• Talent Acquisition
• Leadership & Professional Development
• Intelligence Cloud
• Consumer Markets
• Financial Services
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Specialties
• Board & CEO Services
• Corporate Affairs
• Cybersecurity
• FInancial Services
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Risk Management
• Supply Chain
• Sustainability
• Partnerships
• Microsoft Alliance
• Duke University
• Cleveland Clinic
• Jobs with our clients
• Advance your career
• Join Korn Ferry
• Find a consultant
• Find an office
• Business impact
• Investor relations
• Press releases

© Korn Ferry. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use

Cookie Settings

Do Not Sell My Info

• Daily Crossword
• Word Puzzle
• Word Finder
• Word of the Day
• Synonym of the Day
• Word of the Year
• Language stories
• All featured
• Gender and sexuality
• All pop culture
• Grammar Coach ™
• Writing hub
• Grammar essentials
• Commonly confused
• All writing tips
• Pop culture
• Writing tips

something assigned, as a particular task or duty: She completed the assignment and went on to other jobs.

a position of responsibility, post of duty, or the like, to which one is appointed: He left for his assignment in the Middle East.

an act of assigning; appointment.

the transference of a right, interest, or title, or the instrument of transfer.

a transference of property to assignees for the benefit of creditors.

Origin of assignment

Synonym study for assignment, other words for assignment, other words from assignment.

• mis·as·sign·ment, noun
• non·as·sign·ment, noun
• re·as·sign·ment, noun

Words that may be confused with assignment

• assignment , assignation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use assignment in a sentence

He traveled to China, India, Russia, and Africa for fashion-related assignments.

Among his previous assignments were stints in war zones like Afghanistan and the Congo.

He also had a reputation for not sticking to the brief of his assignments.

His writing assignments were filled with “a disturbing level” of mayhem, war, and death.

The first faux-Fleming assignments went to writers such as Kingsley Amis (writing as “Robert Markham”) and John Gardner.

Toward the end of the campaign his assignments increased until all his time was taken.

Assignments came to be made of one acre to a family, near the palisaded hamlet for convenience and better security.

For a short time he had no assignments that taxed his abilities in either direction.

If you make as good time as you have made on some other assignments, you can get back here before 10:30.

Not a lot of business-reporting assignments involved spending time with half-naked, sun-baked dudes in remote southern junkyards.

British Dictionary definitions for assignment

/ ( əˈsaɪnmənt ) /

something that has been assigned, such as a mission or task

a position or post to which a person is assigned

the act of assigning or state of being assigned

the transfer to another of a right, interest, or title to property, esp personal property : assignment of a lease

the document effecting such a transfer

the right, interest, or property transferred

law (formerly) the transfer, esp by an insolvent debtor, of property in trust for the benefit of his creditors

logic a function that associates specific values with each variable in a formal expression

Australian history a system (1789–1841) whereby a convict could become the unpaid servant of a freeman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

• Dictionaries home
• American English
• Collocations
• German-English
• Grammar home
• Practical English Usage
• Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
• Word Lists home
• My Word Lists
• Recent additions
• Resources home
• Text Checker

Definition of assignment noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Students are required to complete all homework assignments.
• You will need to complete three written assignments per semester.
• a business/special assignment
• I had set myself a tough assignment.
• on an assignment She is in Greece on an assignment for one of the Sunday newspapers.
• on assignment one of our reporters on assignment in China
• The students handed in their assignments.
• The teacher gave us an assignment on pollution.
• Why did you take on this assignment if you're so busy?
• He refused to accept the assignment.
• assignment on

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• his assignment to other duties in the same company
• on assignment

Nearby words

• ABBREVIATIONS
• BIOGRAPHIES
• CALCULATORS
• CONVERSIONS
• DEFINITIONS

  Vocabulary      

What does job assignment mean?

Definitions for job assignment job as·sign·ment, this dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word job assignment ., did you actually mean job candidate or joseph smith , how to pronounce job assignment.

Alex US English David US English Mark US English Daniel British Libby British Mia British Karen Australian Hayley Australian Natasha Australian Veena Indian Priya Indian Neerja Indian Zira US English Oliver British Wendy British Fred US English Tessa South African

How to say job assignment in sign language?

Chaldean Numerology

The numerical value of job assignment in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

Pythagorean Numerology

The numerical value of job assignment in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of job assignment in a Sentence

Rochelle Kopp :

Under Japanese labour law, if you are a permanent employee, refusing a job transfer or other job assignment is the same as saying that you are quitting, it’s so commonplace that people just think it’s normal.

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a free new word definition delivered to your inbox daily.

Please enter your email address:

Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:.

Style: MLA Chicago APA

"job assignment." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 Apr. 2024. < https://www.definitions.net/definition/job+assignment >.

Discuss these job assignment definitions with the community:

Report Comment

We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.

You need to be logged in to favorite .

Create a new account.

Your name: * Required

Your email address: * Required

Pick a user name: * Required

Username: * Required

Password: * Required

Forgot your password?    Retrieve it

Are we missing a good definition for job assignment ? Don't keep it to yourself...

Image credit, the web's largest resource for, definitions & translations, a member of the stands4 network, free, no signup required :, add to chrome, add to firefox, browse definitions.net, are you a words master, base and cowardly, Nearby & related entries:.

• job advertisement interview date
• job analysis
• job application noun
• job application closing date
• job assignment
• job attitude
• job candidate noun
• job captain

Alternative searches for job assignment :

• Search for job assignment on Amazon

More From Forbes

4 rules for accepting a stretch assignment.

• What Makes A Stretch Assignment “Yes”-able?

Ready to tackle a high-intensity, high-profile project? Go you! Here are four rules for assessing whether an assignment is the right fit.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Want to connect to a bigger, bolder vision for your career? Try taking on a stretch assignment: A new project, role or task that is beyond your current expertise. Whether it requires turning around a struggling product or team, automating an inefficient process or delivering a big presentation to a VIP client, you'll be compelled to rapidly develop new technical, business or leadership skills.

There is towering evidence confirming the power of stretch opportunities. Just ask any experienced leader. Egon Zehnder’s survey of 823 international executives found that 71% of senior leaders said stretch assignments had the biggest impact on unleashing their potential. Also, research from Korn Ferry identifies stretch or rotational assignments as the most valuable leadership skill-building experience , ahead of action learning, mentoring, relationships, 360° assessments, exposure to more senior leaders and formal classroom training.

Recently, my colleague Selena Rezvani and I conducted original research about stretch assignments. What we discovered after surveying 1,500 professionals is detailed in my report , "Out of the Comfort Zone: How women and men size up stretch assignments — and why leaders should care."

What Makes A Stretch Assignment “Yes”-able?

We found that women and men factor in similar motivations and roadblocks when deciding whether to accept a stretch assignment. For both genders, the top criteria for saying “yes” to a stretch are having the personal influence to drive a successful outcome, and alignment with their career goals. Women and men agree that office politics, not lack of time, is the biggest practical challenge to taking on a stretch assignment.

There are also some differences. When deciding whether to say “yes” to a stretch assignment, women are more likely than men to prioritize exposure to key mentors and sponsors (18% vs. 11%.) Meanwhile, men are 3.5 times more likely than women to cite ‘pay’ as a factor that makes a stretch assignment appealing.

Make no mistake: A stretch assignment is no small commitment. One exec jokingly referred to them as “night jobs.” You wouldn’t want to accept, or overextend your stay in, a thankless job. So why accept a thankless stretch assignment? One survey respondent, a senior manager with a cloud-based software firm said he looks for a balance of “challenge, risk and reward” when evaluating whether to accept a stretch, and you should, too.

Four Rules for Accepting a Stretch Assignment

• Don’t be afraid to take a risk. Stretch assignments come with tradeoffs. It’s risky to commit to high-stakes work that adds to your workload. But it’s a chance to develop new skills, discover new strengths and build influential networks. “I ask myself, Am I ready for change? Am I ready to be uncomfortable? Am I ready to make a mistake and learn from it?” wrote a woman working as a senior manager in consumer goods manufacturing.
• Define your direction. The ideal stretch fuels your passions, plays to your strengths, and allows you to make a measurable business impact. Scan your org’s landscape for business opportunities that match the challenges you’d like to solve. “ I look for a complex challenge so that I can learn and grow, make impactful change and prove my abilities,” said one survey participant with ambitions to make her mark within a multinational manufacturing conglomerate. Once you have ideas, find evidence to support why they are helpful. Show your management what’s needed and why you’re excited about the part you could play.
• Go after a project no one wants. Sure, everyone wants the stretch assignment associated with the cutting-edge trend or cool new client. But what about the assignment that makes people uneasy or nervous? One male senior manager at an e-commerce company said, “Thinking about it has to make me feel uncomfortable.” A person who volunteers for riskier stretches shows unique confidence in his or her abilities and commitment to the organization. Although manage­­ment may have lower expectations for these assignments, such opportunities are proving grounds for problem-solvers, change agents and fledgling leaders.

Taking on a stretch assignment is not for everyone. But if you’re ready to place a bet on yourself, a well-chosen stretch assignment can pay off, making your skills, value and work ethic known beyond your immediate workgroup. Stretch assignments are proven shortcuts to advancement, so don’t underestimate their career-making potential.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Synonyms of assignment

• as in lesson
• as in appointment
• More from M-W
• To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In

Thesaurus Definition of assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsibility
• undertaking
• requirement
• designation
• appointment
• authorization
• installment
• installation
• destination
• emplacement
• investiture
• singling (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dethronement

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun assignment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore , duty , job , stint , and task . While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

When is it sensible to use chore instead of assignment ?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

When is duty a more appropriate choice than assignment ?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

When might job be a better fit than assignment ?

The synonyms job and assignment are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

When could stint be used to replace assignment ?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. However, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

When can task be used instead of assignment ?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

Thesaurus Entries Near assignment

assignments

Cite this Entry

“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on assignment

Nglish: Translation of assignment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of assignment for Arabic Speakers

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the day.

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, every letter is silent, sometimes: a-z list of examples, more commonly mispronounced words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - apr. 12, 10 scrabble words without any vowels, 12 more bird names that sound like insults (and sometimes are), 8 uncommon words related to love, 9 superb owl words, games & quizzes.

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of assignment in Essential English Dictionary

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

(Definition of assignment from the Cambridge Essential Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of assignment

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

pitch-perfect

singing each musical note perfectly, at exactly the right pitch (= level)

Alike and analogous (Talking about similarities, Part 1)

Learn more with +Plus

• Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
• Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
• Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
• Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
• English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
• English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
• English–Dutch Dutch–English
• English–French French–English
• English–German German–English
• English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
• English–Italian Italian–English
• English–Japanese Japanese–English
• English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
• English–Polish Polish–English
• English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
• English–Spanish Spanish–English
• English–Swedish Swedish–English
• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• Essential British English    Noun
• Translations
• All translations

Add assignment to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{message}}

Something went wrong.

There was a problem sending your report.