| May 2005 • Volume 25 • Number 5 • The Meeting Professional |
Career Pathways: Set Up for Success
Developing a New Industry Standard
To succeed at work, we need to perform effectively. And to do that, we must assess our knowledge, skills and behaviors. What are we good at? Where do we need to make changes to improve our performance? We also must understand the value of continuous professional development in helping us to gain the additional skills, experiences and qualifications that will bolster our performance.
In addition, we also need a clear picture of the future role or job we would like to have. We should be able to describe what we need to do in that role, and then spend time developing the appropriate skills, knowledge and behaviors to support our planned development. For some of us, that future role or job may be an expanded version of the one we perform now; for others, it may be a move up the management ladder.
Many MPI members came to the meetings industry from a wide variety of backgrounds. (I’m an archaeologist—need I say more?) So, how does one become a meeting professional? Until now, that question has been difficult to answer. If you are considering entering the meeting profession from another discipline, you must ascertain the transferable skills you have and which new skills you need to develop.
In addition, we work internationally, and the movement of people between jobs—and between countries—is increasing. Indeed, people sometimes may not understand what skills you bring to a job because of our diverse backgrounds, and the different language used in education and certification increases the risk of this. Is a certificate comparable to a diploma or a degree? Is experience as a vice president the same as for a director? Does a four-year degree program in one country comprise the same content as a three-year program in another?
Currently, if you are recruiting a new staff member, it’s quite challenging to compare people’s qualifications and select the best candidate for the job. The same is true if you are presenting your past experience to a potential employer.
MPI’s Career Pathways program, slated to launch in January 2006, will transform the meetings industry by providing the first worldwide tool that supports the needs outlined above. The program will enable you to describe your current skills, use a standard set of descriptions that everyone will understand and review your skill set to identify gaps. You can also identify and describe where you are in your career and where you wish to be, ascertain what is needed to become a meeting professional and receive information about professional development activities to support your career planning.
MPI will provide a standard set of descriptions for different career levels based on the professional meeting and event management competencies we need to succeed. The Professional Development Strategy Group is working with Leadership Synergies to research and draft the competencies at each career level to ensure that they cover every aspect of our work. To support this activity, MPI is developing online tools and resources for you to plan your career path, identify your skills and assess the gaps between where you are now and where you would like to be.
As the development of Career Pathways continues, you can get updates from this monthly column in The Meeting Professional and from the mycareer@mpiwebsection of MPI’s Web site ( www.mpiweb.org). Stay informed
to learn how Career Pathways will help you prepare your professional future.
CAROLE MCKELLAR, CMM, MCIPD, is managing director of The Association Gateway, a not-for-profit information resource for association leaders; chairwoman of MPI’s Professional Development Strategy Group; and the immediate past president of MPI’s United Kingdom Chapter. She may be contacted at carole.mckellar@rfb.co.uk.