Career Development: Own Your Own Career Success

Randstad Canada provides helpful tips to help employees hold themselves accountable for their own career development and success.

TORONTO, June 28, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Are you looking for a way to give your career a boost? According to Randstad Canada, the country's leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services, a career development plan is a great way to get the most out of your career, whether you have worked in the same job for years, or have just started a brand new position this week.

Leandra Harris, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Randstad Canada says today's employees are not hesitant to take on the responsibility of initiating their own career development. "It is up to employees to identify their skills, values, and interests; discuss their expectations with their managers; and seek out information about career options," she says.

According to Harris it's important for workers to recognize who they are, identify their strengths and recognize their values. "Success in the workplace comes to those who know their strengths, their values and how they best perform. Employees must be aware of their career goals and have a good understanding of the optimum role they play to achieve productivity and success in the workplace. On the other hand, organizations also need to understand the abilities and skills of employees in order to help them play the most effective roles possible," she says.

Harris offers these simple tips to help you nurture your career and start owning your own career development:

• Make the most of the career development opportunities that are available to you. Employess can sometimes spend too much time thinking about what they're not getting instead of recognizing that opportunities to learn and improve are available to them within their everyday job and interaction with others.
  
  
• Find yourself a mentor: Seek out allies and mentors in the workplace and make the most of these relationships.
  
  
• As you move along in your career, assess your progress. Reevaluate your long and short-term career goals every few months. It's important to review your progress on a regular basis and celebrate your wins! 
  
  
• Bottom line: Own it. It's up to you to find ways to develop the capabilities and skill sets that will allow you to attain your career objectives. 

Harris believes a successful learning and development program cannot rely on the organization alone. "With guidance, support and tools from their organization, employees should engage in a process of career discovery and development," she says.  "Taking a pro-active approach to ones own career is an important step towards determining your own career success. "

About Randstad Canada: Randstad Canada is the Canadian leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services. As the only fully integrated staffing company in the country, we understand the recruitment needs and demands of employers and job seekers across all levels and industries. Through our insightful knowledge of local markets, employment trends and global network of recruitment experts, we are shaping the Canadian world of work. Visit randstad.ca