HDA

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HDA OVERVIEW
HDA Case Studies

Career Coaching – Higher Education

Background

Since January 2010 the University have made available to all of their staff, access to independent career support through HDA. This presents the opportunity to review their careers by considering existing skills and past achievements, where they are now, where they want to be and how they are going to move forwards toward their goals.

HDA have been providing outplacement support to the University staff for many years. Through a review of the existing service delivery, the two organisations worked together to create a "Career Centre". The Career Centre is seen as a vehicle to be used by managers as part of the appraisal process, as well as employee self-referral, to discuss professional development and career planning in a confidential environment.

Our Approach

HDA designed and developed an online Career Centre resource – a webpage accessed via the University’s Career Portal. Potential visitors to the Career Centre and their managers can easily obtain information about the Centre and the HDA Career Coach along with an appointment booking facility. In addition the web-link provides access to a comprehensive career review workbook to compliment the 1:1 meetings.

The workbook serves to stimulate the employees thoughts on how they may benefit from the coaching services and provides exercises to encourage the following: career reflection; identification of existing skills and satisfying achievements; appreciating their values, beliefs and needs; assessment of all these areas against current and future roles; establishing an action plan.

The Career Coach runs the Career Centre fortnightly and works with visitors to help them identify their career options and plan their route to achieve their career aspirations. The Career Coach also has knowledge of career development opportunities available through the University and encourages staff to access them.

The Career Centre has also been instrumental in providing support to a group of employees affected by a departmental re-organisation Support via the Career Centre allowed them to consider the personal impact and prepare for applications required for new roles created.

Outcomes

As a long term project that is still in progress, HDA is partnering with the University to evaluate the success of the Career Centre. Visitor numbers are increasing due to recommendations from those that have already found the service to be of benefit. All former visitors are asked to complete an online evaluation questionnaire and recent results show that all of their objectives for career coaching sessions were met and action has been taken as a direct result of their career review, in discussion with their Manager.

Visitors to the Career Centre have reported feeling more valued and better supported by the University in having this facility provided and more motivated in their work by having accessed the service.

Many organisations have within their performance management process, a separate form or ‘box’ contained within their appraisal documentation to cover career development/planning. However, the reality is that conversations within the process are often focused on business objectives with personal objectives being secondary. This is understandable due to those conducting the appraisal having a major interest in how they meet the business objectives with their team.

Providing the opportunity for an independent career review as a more focused input to the appraisal process, empowers employees to take ownership of their own career development. Whilst there is an accepted risk that some may leave the organisation, the majority will feel more motivated and energised in their existing roles for having the opportunity to consider their career path and implement steps to achieve their plan. A ‘Win-Win’ for the employee and the organisation.

Joanne Simpson – Managing Career Consultant, HDA Career Transition Services

Click here for more information on our Career Transition Services

For further information: call 08452 60 95 40 or email info@hda.co.uk

To discuss potential HDA contributions, please contact us at email: info@hda.co.uk