Launching this week, the GIBS online career mentor tool will have exposure in all of Dimension Data’s international branches by means of a customised website which is part of the Dimension Data global career management platform.

GIBS has always prided itself on being both leading edge and close to business: creating education platforms that clearly demonstrate its understanding of business needs. In line with this, GIBS launched neXt in 2007 – an exciting online career mentoring initiative for individuals who are passionate about their career development and want to answer the question: “What is next in my career?”

NeXt is designed as a customisable guidance and navigation website portal in which individuals can assess personal preferences, determine where they are in their career and which steps they can take to achieve their goals.

According to Alison Reid, Senior Manager: Personal and Applied Learning at GIBS, the neXt online career mentor uses a guided reflection approach consisting of 13 assessment tools that are very useful in planning, reviewing and identifying career options and next steps.

“The neXt exercises direct participants to review their strengths and characteristics and supports them in making their next career decision based on the results of their reflections,” says Reid. Most of the exercises centre on self-reflection and generate a useful individual report for the user to review and consider.

Self-help exercises form an integral part of Dimension Data’s career management portal which allows employees to look at various jobs and possible career progression paths based on the jobs they currently hold. They will also have the opportunity to rate their skills in order to identify gaps for further growth and development as well as formalise a personal development plan.
 

“NeXt supports Dimension Data’s overall career management process and highlights the organisation’s willingness to support proactive career management in a relevant, modern work economy,” says Nicolene Hogg, Global Learning and Development Specialist at Dimension Data.
 

“The Dimension Data career portal advises that the most crucial step in managing your career is getting to know yourself. This applies whether you are just starting your career, are well established, but in need of change, or are happy where you are, but still want to grow and improve. To make wise career choices it is important not only to know your skills, knowledge and experience, but also your inherent strengths, motivations, career anchors and learning styles,” says Hogg.
 

The partnership between GIBS and Dimension Data will provide exercises that help employees to reflect on what they need to do to take the next steps in their careers. The career portal will offer a variety of exercises that aim to generate a confidential and individualised report to help them make wise career choices. In addition, this personal career decision-making tool will give employees access to information such as “how to” guide articles, links and other self-help material via the portal.