Professional Interview
21 February 2013
Read by 2000 persons
Professional Interview.
This meeting with your employer aims to help you review your accomplishments, skills, and career prospects. It's a good opportunity to request training. But who is eligible for such an interview? What is the process? How to negotiate training? Our advice.
Based on your career goals and skills, as well as the company's needs, this meeting is an opportunity to discuss completed and planned training with your employer to achieve these goals. It's also the ideal time to discuss your use of DIF (Individual Training Rights) and the conditions for potential training.
What are the conditions to be eligible?
All employees who have worked for the same company for at least two years are entitled to an interview at least every two years. It can be initiated by either the employer or the employee. However, not all companies are required to implement this. To find out if you are eligible, it is best to contact your HR department or the works council.
How does it work?
Each company defines the specific procedures. It may be part of the annual review (see box below: "What's the difference with the annual review") or a separate meeting. The professional interview aims to:
- Review your current situation and completed training;
- Discuss your career aspirations, mobility, and personal constraints;
- Identify how you can improve your skills or enhance your qualifications;
- Identify training programs that can be implemented according to the objectives, and the conditions for training (outside working hours, etc.);
- Review your DIF requests.
How to negotiate training?
The professional interview is an opportunity to request training from your supervisor. To increase your chances of success, follow these points:
• Be as precise as possible about the duration and cost of the training. Know the name of the course, diploma, training organization, and the type of validation (diploma, title, certificate, etc.);
• Try to take into account the constraints of the company and your position to schedule your training. Also find out about DIF implementation procedures;
• Clearly explain how this training will improve your performance and benefit the company;
• Explain possible funding methods, especially if the company is not familiar with these options;
• Offer to handle some of the steps with the training organization yourself.
The interview for those over 45
All companies with at least 50 employees must offer a professional interview to employees in the year following their 45th birthday. During this meeting, which takes place every five years, the employee must be informed of their rights regarding access to a professional milestone review, skills assessment, or professional development action. This interview can be an opportunity for the employee to discover internal mobility opportunities, adjustments to their job, or to prepare for the transition from work to retirement.
What's the difference with the annual review?
While the annual performance review focuses on short-term performance and objectives, the professional interview is a medium-term approach (two or three years). Depending on your wishes, you can request a skills assessment or a VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) action, discuss the use of your DIF (Individual Right to Training), or the implementation of a professionalization period.
However, in practice, these two interviews are often confused. This does not prevent you from discussing your skills with your manager. Generally, this interview takes place during working hours as it is a professional activity.
Nathalie Samson.
Pourseformer.fr
Posted online February 21, 2013.
This meeting with your employer aims to help you review your accomplishments, skills, and career prospects. It's a good opportunity to request training. But who is eligible for such an interview? What is the process? How to negotiate training? Our advice.
Based on your career goals and skills, as well as the company's needs, this meeting is an opportunity to discuss completed and planned training with your employer to achieve these goals. It's also the ideal time to discuss your use of DIF (Individual Training Rights) and the conditions for potential training.
What are the conditions to be eligible?
All employees who have worked for the same company for at least two years are entitled to an interview at least every two years. It can be initiated by either the employer or the employee. However, not all companies are required to implement this. To find out if you are eligible, it is best to contact your HR department or the works council.
How does it work?
Each company defines the specific procedures. It may be part of the annual review (see box below: "What's the difference with the annual review") or a separate meeting. The professional interview aims to:
- Review your current situation and completed training;
- Discuss your career aspirations, mobility, and personal constraints;
- Identify how you can improve your skills or enhance your qualifications;
- Identify training programs that can be implemented according to the objectives, and the conditions for training (outside working hours, etc.);
- Review your DIF requests.
How to negotiate training?
The professional interview is an opportunity to request training from your supervisor. To increase your chances of success, follow these points:
• Be as precise as possible about the duration and cost of the training. Know the name of the course, diploma, training organization, and the type of validation (diploma, title, certificate, etc.);
• Try to take into account the constraints of the company and your position to schedule your training. Also find out about DIF implementation procedures;
• Clearly explain how this training will improve your performance and benefit the company;
• Explain possible funding methods, especially if the company is not familiar with these options;
• Offer to handle some of the steps with the training organization yourself.
The interview for those over 45
All companies with at least 50 employees must offer a professional interview to employees in the year following their 45th birthday. During this meeting, which takes place every five years, the employee must be informed of their rights regarding access to a professional milestone review, skills assessment, or professional development action. This interview can be an opportunity for the employee to discover internal mobility opportunities, adjustments to their job, or to prepare for the transition from work to retirement.
What's the difference with the annual review?
While the annual performance review focuses on short-term performance and objectives, the professional interview is a medium-term approach (two or three years). Depending on your wishes, you can request a skills assessment or a VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) action, discuss the use of your DIF (Individual Right to Training), or the implementation of a professionalization period.
However, in practice, these two interviews are often confused. This does not prevent you from discussing your skills with your manager. Generally, this interview takes place during working hours as it is a professional activity.
Nathalie Samson.
Pourseformer.fr
Posted online February 21, 2013.
