Student Question
Hello, Master. I am 34 years old and currently serve as Section Chief of the Cadre Division at a municipal organization department. Compared to a township party secretary, which position is better? The reason I ask is that department leadership has called me in for a talk and wants me to go down to serve as a township party secretary. Do you think I should go? I feel like it might be a step down, but I also sense it could be bad to refuse. What do you think I should do?
Master Chi’s Response
Under normal circumstances, a Section Chief of a Cadre Division at a municipal organization department, once they have served three or more years at the full section level, is typically promoted directly to a deputy division-level leadership post. The common path is a transfer to a county or district to serve as a standing committee member or organization department head.
A lateral transfer down to serve as a party secretary is relatively uncommon.
When this kind of arrangement does occur, it generally comes down to one of three reasons.
The first is that the Section Chief is a reserve cadre — relatively young, lacking grassroots work experience. In this case, the appointment as township party secretary is primarily meant to fill that gap at the grassroots level, laying the groundwork for future development and eventual promotion.
The second is that the official has not yet completed three years in the full section-level leadership role, and still needs to build both grassroots experience and multi-post experience. As a result, they do not yet meet the qualifications for promotion to deputy division level. This arrangement is a preparatory step first — what I have often called in my circle “back to the furnace for reforging” — with promotion to be considered afterward.
The third is that the official may have committed minor errors due to insufficient experience and is no longer suitable to continue in the Cadre Section Chief role. In that case, the organization arranges a post at the frontline grassroots level to build character and develop through hardship.
If the situation falls under the first or second reason, this is simply one of the ways an organization cultivates its cadres — and it is, of course, a good thing. The right attitude is to accept it positively and give it everything you have. Do your work wholeheartedly and accumulate as many positive factors as possible for your future promotion.
As someone who has served as Section Chief of the Cadre Division, you should already know full well which of these three reasons applies to your situation.
Since leadership has already called you in for a talk, this means the organization has already reached its decision. Regardless of how you feel, you must go. This is discipline and protocol — it does not bend to personal preference, and there is no room for negotiation.