How Does HR Technology Empower Employees to Take Control of Their Career Development?
To provide you with practical tips on leveraging HR technology for career development, we asked HR consultants and talent management strategists for their thoughts. From enabling self-development with HR tech to using personalized career-development platforms, here are the top five suggestions these experts shared on empowering employees and enhancing workforce engagement.
- Enable Self-Development With HR Tech
- Capture Career Aspirations Effectively
- Track Goals Using HR Technology
- Implement Self-Service Career Portals
- Use Personalized Career-Development Platforms
Enable Self-Development With HR Tech
With the influx of Gen-Z into the workforce, HR tech is becoming more important than ever before. Gen-Z employees want to take ownership of their careers, and when simple, streamlined tech exists to do so, they flourish. HR technology can enable self-development (especially with business skills) and provide visibility to potential career paths and how to grow the right skills to progress. Organizations that effectively employ this kind of tech will foster employee growth and see increased financial performance.
Sarah McGowan
HR Consultant, N/A
Capture Career Aspirations Effectively
When I was Head of Talent at British Airways, we actively encouraged our teams to use the Performance and Talent system to capture their career aspirations. This would include their personal development objectives and any roles that they would like to be considered for. This helped me in my role as I was able to compare aspirations across different departments, which in turn would support me in deciding who to put forward to be tested for any high-potential programs. We made sure to communicate that because they completed these details in the system, it made identifying aspirations easier, which in turn encouraged others to do the same.
Jane Ferré
Talent Management Strategist, Jane Ferré Coaching
Track Goals Using HR Technology
One of the best ways to leverage HR technology for career growth is to use it for tracking your goals. Start with one long-term goal and break that down into smaller goals. Use the SMART framework to make your goal specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Set a due date for your goal in the HR system and set an alert, if that’s an option, to remind you.
If you struggle to find the time to work toward your goals, schedule time on your calendar on a weekly basis and try to maintain that schedule. Check in on your goal progress regularly and celebrate the interim achievements along the way. It is extremely motivating when you achieve your goals. Aim high and enjoy the journey.
Betsy Bayha
Regional Talent Development Manager, Gensler
Implement Self-Service Career Portals
A practical tip for using HR technology to empower employees in taking charge of their career development is to implement a self-service career development portal. We introduced an online platform where employees can access personalized career paths, skill-building resources, and development opportunities. This portal allows employees to set career goals, track their progress, and enroll in training programs that align with their aspirations.
For example, an employee interested in moving into a leadership role can access leadership-training modules and mentorship programs directly through the portal. By providing these resources, employees feel more in control of their career growth, which increases their engagement and motivation.
This proactive approach not only helps in retaining top talent but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, contributing to overall workforce engagement and satisfaction.
Sean Smith
CEO & Head of HR, Alpas Wellness
Use Personalized Career-Development Platforms
Many companies implement a personalized career-development platform with features like goal-setting dashboards, AI-driven training recommendations, 360-degree pulse surveys, and mentorship matching. I couldn’t recommend using tools of that kind more! Such a platform empowers individuals to take proactive steps in managing their growth by helping them set and track their career objectives, identify skill gaps, and pursue tailored learning opportunities.
It also gives employees great independence in exploring what they want, need, and can do to make it happen. Real-time progress tracking and feedback motivate employees and keep them on course. They better understand their strengths and areas for improvement, which allows them to take timely actions that align with their career trajectory.
Additionally, mentorship matching fosters a culture of continuous learning and networking, as it involves connecting employees with experienced colleagues for guidance and support. Such platforms enhance workforce engagement by enabling employees to take charge of their career development. Employees feel more independent and motivated to explore and achieve their career aspirations, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention.
Agata Szczepanek
Career Expert & Community Manager, LiveCareer
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