FREE online courses on Career Paths WBT - The Changing
Career Strategies - Career Development Intervention
Alternative
career paths
One approach to alternative career path
involves “incorporating the skills employees already have with what their hearts
want to do”. It can involve changing career and lifestyles for more meaningful
and fulfilling work arrangements Creating alternative career paths often
involves incorporating other career development interventions, such as flexi
time or job enrichment. Workers seeking an alternative career path may find
themselves downshifting or moving sideways. Alternative career paths should not
be confused with dual career paths.
For example, Shefali an editor finds herself plateaued in
her current career and experiencing “burn-out”. By creating an alternative
career path, Shefali transfers current skills into a new career by joining a
course in web designing, one that in the past was considered only a dream.
Shefali, along with her employer, may also decide that job enrichment or
flextime may be an option, so that the company does not lose a valued employee,
and Shefali does not lose any accrued benefits. Another instance of creating an
alternative career path would be a situation where recent graduates have
followed their dream in their studies, but are having difficulty finding a job
in their specific field. For example, Divya received a doctorate in
environmental science and public policy, and is using her talents and skills at
the Kuber Institution's Division of Birds to prevent aviation mishaps.
Assessment center activities
- Assessment
centers are most often used to identify workers' career potential, or for use
in job placement
activities, and may be used with either
current or prospective employees.
- Assessment
centers are most often used in conjunction with filling professional or
managerial positions, although they may be used with other positions as well
Generally speaking, assessment centers do not constitute an
office or physical space in an organization. In most instances, a participant in
an assessment center is simply asked to complete several exercises aimed at:
- Measuring
higher-level management,
-
Problem-solving, and
-
Decision-making skills.
Several types of exercises may be used, including in-basket
tests, leaderless discussion groups, and role-play situations.
For example, Niharika, an assistant manager is being
considered for a promotion in the accounting department of her company. The
promotion would include supervising six members of the accounting staff. To
partially assess Niharika's ability as a manager, she and three other candidates
for the position take part in an assessment center. The assessment includes an
in-basket exercise on analyzing cash flow, and several role-plays designed to
evaluate their effectiveness on giving feedback, praising, and disciplining
employees.
