Career Discussions at Work, Practical Tips for - CIPD

Cover
Benefits of this
tool
Introduction
Description of the
tool
An introductory
exercise: Reflect
on your own
experiences
The business
case for effective
career discussions
What makes
for an effective
career discussion
The NICEC model
of effective career
discussion
Skills, behaviours
and personal
attributes
Developing
capability in the
business
About the NICEC
research
Sources of
information
How to use the
tool
Tool map
2.2 What range of people can you talk to about your career
There is a wide range of people you can talk to about your career. Some will
know more about some things than others, so it can be good to talk to several
different people. Possible people to talk to include:
• Your boss is someone you will see regularly and probably have an
ongoing relationship with. Some career conversations may take place
as part of appraisal, but more often they are part of other meetings or
will take place at a meeting specially arranged to discuss your career.
• Other managers, your ex-boss, your boss’s boss, your project
manager are also good people to talk to, either because they have
seen you in action or because they can often give you a broader
perspective on things than your immediate boss (eg on likely job
opportunities, emerging business issues and organisational changes).
• Mentors and coaches don’t just have a role in supporting you in
your present job but also in developing you for the future. Sometimes
people are invited to work with coaches as part of a follow-up to a
formal process, such as a development centre. Both formal and informal
mentors can give rich support.
• Heads of function/profession are good for dealing with professional
issues, such as the sort of work experience most valued for more senior
roles, or how to obtain a professional qualification. They can also be
important formal or informal mentors, challenging how you see yourself
and your career.
• Colleagues are good at seeing the world of work from your
perspective. They’ll often be willing to share their experience of working
in similar and/or different roles.
• Your HR/training department are the people who should be able to
tell you how things are done around here and will also have a broad
overview of work and development opportunities. They may also be the
gatekeepers to participation in events, such as career workshops, or to
accessing other career materials. They can use their HR contacts to help
you network across the organisation.
• Other career or development specialists can help you take a really
fresh view of the world of work, especially if they are outside the
organisation. They are often people who have ‘no axe to grind’ and
can be very skilled at helping you understand your own drivers and
preferences.
For more detailed information on the research findings on the characteristics
of career discussions, go to About the NICEC research.
Career discussions at work Practical tips for HR, managers and employees ©CIPD 2005
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