What next? How IBM supports career development

Training and Development, May 2005, A new shade of Big Blue, pg. 36 (sidebar)

Hot Skills a Hot Topic
As part of its workforce leadership development efforts, IBM is developing a "hot skills index." Part roadmap, part marketing tool, the index is designed to help information-age workers understand what skills they will need to develop to stay competitive in the 21st century labor market. IBM will track past and present data to sniff out trends that indicate the market demand for a wide variety of technical and professional skills. As planned, the index will also serve as a forecasting device for job seekers and hiring companies alike. The effort may include a group of external experts and advisors who would help validate and corroborate what IBM calls "critical expertise."

Training and Development, May 2005, A new shade of Big Blue, pg. 42

The company has launched a tool called Opportunity Marketplace where employees are able to look at job opportunities across the company. Every day, they can look at what's hot at IBM.

"We can also take that a step further, and this is where technology can make a difference," says Riley. "I can understand the skills profile that underlies a job and then drill down to see if I have the skills."

If the IBMer doesn't have the requisite skills, he can look at career road maps, requirements, and the learning that are needed to position him to go after one of those jobs in the future.

"The integrated training, and development [combined] with the idea of talent management is the next frontier in training and learning," predicts Riley. "it is not a disconnected event. Now, there is an understanding that if I want to learn in a hot area of the business-an area in which there are a lot of requirements and a business that has a future-I can understand what it will take to do that work.

"Then, I can drill down and create an individual learning plan for myself that will allow me to take advantage of courses, programs, and job experiences that prepare me to compete for one of those job roles."

It's an end-to-end integration that connects the hot areas with direction on what it takes to prepare for one of those careers. "and, all of it is being enabled by technology," Riley says. "It's huge."

Where do I go next?

How does career pathing working in a rapidly changing environment?