McMaster employees will soon have career planning advice at work with the introduction of a new career services initiative to be offered by the Career Planning & Employment Centre (CPEC).

A one-year pilot project will offer a variety of career services to McMaster employees, including sessions on career decision making, planning for professional development/training and employment applications.

“Offering career services to employees is an emerging trend in the field of human resources development,” says Lisa Boniface, director of CPEC. “By offering this service, it will further enhance our ability to be an employer of choice.”

CPEC will hire a counselor to administer the service. The position will be posted in July, with an expectation that it will be filled this summer and fully operational by fall.

Last December, a needs assessment survey was conducted to investigate the possibility of enhancing career services for University employees in the MUSA and hourly bargaining units, as well as TMG. In total, 864 people responded to the survey  a 31.7 per cent response rate  and of those, 94.2 per cent support a career services program.

“The survey results were extremely rich,” said Jason Cole, senior manager of Human Resources Services' Organization Performance. “They indicated that employees would value and use services to assist them with education/professional development planning, career planning and skills needed when applying for jobs, such as resuming writing and interview skills.”

It also helps McMaster promote from within, he says. “There seems to be an opportunity to support internal mobility by coaching internal candidates so that they can compete for jobs more effectively.”

In addition to individual and group counseling, there also will be resources offered online and through print. Most services will be offered on the main campus, during regular business hours; however some evenings and off site services will also be available.

In providing the service, confidentiality is key, Boniface adds. “Employees can be assured that services of this nature are private and we are sensitive to the fact that confidentiality is an issue and so we'll be flexible to accommodate people's needs.”

Stephanie Cherwinski, chair of the Working at McMaster/Career Planning & Development steering committee, feels the service is a step in the right direction. “In order to retain employees, supporting their needs in terms of career growth is essential,” she says. “By offering these services to employees, McMaster is sending a clear message that it supports internal promotion and career growth.”