Career Discussions for a New Generation of Workers

At one NACS Show education session, find out why Generation Y employees should work for you.

September 14, 2016

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Have you ever spoken with an employee from the youngest generation in the workplace and felt like you’re having a completely different conversation about work? If you answered yes, you’re not alone.

For example, the employee might be asking for challenging assignments, a way to give back to the community and advancement within the first week of work. You’re expecting him to be on time for work, do what needs to be done and put in the time to gain the experience that will help the organization deliver results and satisfy customers—which will generate advancement opportunities.

The way we work shifts along with career expectations as each new generation of employees enters the workforce. With each shift, supervisors and managers need to adapt the set of tools they use to attract, retain and develop employees. At this year’s NACS Show, speaker Joanne Loce, president of Loce Consulting, LLC, and moderator Emily Sheetz, director of Talent Development at Sheetz, Inc., will lead an interactive session to discuss career development, provide practical tools and help you build skills to have more productive career discussions.

Here’s a quick preview of how to unlock the mysteries of productive, engaging career discussions that retain employees:

Set achievable career goals. Successful career development for anyone requires clear, achievable goals. Sharing how these shorter-term goals lead into a longer-term career path provides a clear, accurate picture of growth and advancement—and can help retain employees longer.

Dedicate time to discuss career development. Life is busy, and we often find ourselves rushing through development meetings with employees. Prioritize career discussions, and be prepared with questions to drive an engaging discussion.

Share your stories. Experience can often lead to wisdom. Be prepared to share how your experiences—even the ones that didn’t feel “developmental” at the time—helped to shape your career. 

Provide hands-on learning. Assign meaningful tasks and build up responsibility over time. Relating various tasks to career and life skills demonstrates that you are committed to the employee’s personal and professional development.

Join us at the NACS show in Atlanta, October 18-21, to learn how to further build your skills in career development. Attend “Career Discussions for a New Generation of Workers” on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 8:00 am, and walk away with practical tips and tools that will help you be more effective in all your career discussions.

Joanne M. Loce is president of Loce Consulting, LLC.

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