Millennials (digital natives) focus on career development and advancement, as do many. 30% of the workforce changes jobs every 3 years (Source: US Dept. of Labor). This will climax in 2021 when the “Silver Tsunami” peaks with baby boomer retirement maximizing.
Kroger CEO David Dillon, “The advice I give to individuals in our company is not to expect the company to hand you a development plan. You need to take responsibility for developing yourself.” Similarly, Disney asks individuals to be responsible for their own career management. They must create a brand for themselves by creating a name through the delivery of results. From there, different divisions will want them.
How important is formal learning in career development? Can you really point to a formal learning experience that got you promoted to the role that you are in today? Chances are, as you reflect on your career – your development comes from on-the-job. These may have been: career assignments, special projects, manager feedback, coaching & mentoring. All of these provide on-demand, spontaneous, and informal development.
A Partner at KPMG once told me, the key was to have a great attitude, an insatiable appetite to learn, and to ask for what you want. She was told early in her career to make copies for an executive’s meeting. Not only did she do it well, but she read all the presentations so that she would understand what executives were talking about.
Are you taking responsibility to develop your career?
