Taking care of our own:
Aiming High
By Kelly, Human Resources Director, UMHS
(May/June 2009)
A lesson in ongoing career development services
Employees have told us they’d value help with career development. We’ve heard this message a lot—in a 2006 Health System employee retention focus group report and many other feedback venues since then. There are pockets of decentralized career resources across the University and it’s difficult for staff to know what’s available and how to get access.
The 2006 focus groups were part of the Workforce Investment Plan, developed with units and Human Resources in an effort to “re-recruit” Health System employees to retain and nurture a positive work environment. The question was: How? HR applied for a Fostering Innovation Grant to test a variety of career development services to determine the best way to offer ongoing career development resources to employees.
The FIG enabled HR to conduct two pilot programs. Because some Health Information Management positions were being eliminated, those employees became part of the pilot. These staff members needed immediate help with career development. Matt Woods, HR project manager, acted as a career development counselor and helped participants with issues like:
- Deciding on potential careers
- Breaking into an identified profession
- Enhancing skills for current positions
- Developing résumés and interviewing skills
- Identifying career paths for current jobs and identified professions
What did we learn? First and foremost, we now know all the career development resources at the University and how to access them. Visit www.hr.umich.edu/career for a look at all that’s available to help you grow.
Many participants received a boost to begin the next journey of their careers. Some returned to college, others increased engagement in their current job and some discovered what they didn’t want to do.
Ultimately, HR aims to have an ongoing career development resource center. The FIG has prepared us to move forward when resources become available in the future.