6 reasons why a talent manager is really chill
When you are nearing graduation and starting your first full-time job, a lot of new things are coming your way. 💼 And with that, numerous new challenges will arise! It’s nice to have someone to guide you during this period. That’s why talent manager Floris is sharing his six reasons why you should have a talent manager at the start of your career🌟.
1. Personal development
No matter where you are in your career, personal development will always be part of it. A talent manager can help you during this journey. Together, you’ll assess your hard and soft skills to determine areas for development. Hard skills might involve abilities like mastering Power BI, Python, or SQL. Soft skills are about teamwork, communication, and managing expectations.
Talent manager Floris Foekens tells us: ‘’I often notice that young professionals are eager to sprint from day one. They feel the need to show off what they can do. However, this may lead to them getting overwhelmed. In situations like this, we like to address expectation management. What exactly do the manager and the team expect from you? And which skills do you apply for what tasks?’’
2. Working together
You’ve probably noticed during your studies that teamwork can sometimes be challenging. It’s no different in the professional world. Within a team, you’ll encounter a mix of different personality types, generations, and work styles. Cultural backgrounds, communication styles, and varying levels of experience can also come into play. Navigating these differences can be tricky at times. Fortunately, this is exactly where your talent manager steps in to help.
Floris: “At Solid Professionals, we use the MBTI theory. This model helps you discover your personality style. It provides insights into why you act in certain ways during certain situations. Knowing your profile enables you to understand why you encounter certain issues during teamwork—for example, structure in a project. You might be naturally structured, making it easy to implement. Meanwhile, your colleague isn’t, and in your opinion, is messing everything up. This might frustrate you a lot, and it can hamper collaboration.
With your talent manager, you explore how to handle such situations. Often, it starts with self-reflection. What is your behaviour like in this situation, and why does, for example, irritation arise?
3. Giving feedback
“The next step towards effective teamwork is giving feedback. I frequently see that young professionals have feedback for their colleagues but are nervous to share it. However, this openness can enhance collaboration.” Floris explains, “I try to push you out of your comfort zone and motivate you to do it. Taking these steps can make teamwork easier and equips you with an important skill for the future. In addition, it makes sure the atmosphere at work stays pleasant, which is worth a lot as well.’’
4. Work-life balance
With your talent manager, you won’t just discuss work, but you also talk about personal well-being. Work and personal life often intertwine. If something is amiss at home, it can affect your performance at work. During your traineeship, you will attend some training sessions that help you find the right balance. These sessions cover various topics, like the importance of exercise, quality sleep, and taking sufficient breaks.
“During my conversations with young professionals, I frequently ask what these topics mean to them,” says Floris. If he observes a young professional struggling with something in this area, they explore potential solutions together. Another important aspect is whether the young professional wants to do something about it themselves. Floris: “I once assisted a young professional who indicated fatigue. It turned out that his long commute drained him, forcing him to leave home early and return late. With his manager, we came up with a solution. He started exercising and walking, which revitalised him. He was also given the opportunity to start earlier or later and do some work on the train. You could see the positive impact; he felt better afterward. This shows that expressing your struggles can be very valuable.”
💡 Did you know: The number of burnouts among young employees continues to rise year after year, and the severity of burnout symptoms is also increasing. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is key to preventing this!
5. Your career path
A talent manager helps you discover what career path you desire or are best suited for. Floris tells us: “Many recent graduates entering the job market realise there is so much they didn’t know until then. An external perspective from someone aware of the possibilities can help guide you in the right direction and take you much further. And that’s what a talent manager provides; an objective, outside point of view. With your talent manager, you focus on your aspirations: what do you want to achieve in the short and long term, and how will you shape these goals?
6. Dedicated manager
Managers are often busy. They lead large teams while juggling other responsibilities, which means they aren’t always readily available. This is where your talent manager comes in! A talent manager operates slightly outside of day-to-day tasks and takes on a more independent role.
“Let’s be honest, some things are a bit less comfortable to discuss with your manager,” says Floris. “Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you don’t feel entirely at ease approaching your manager directly. For example, a challenging collaboration with a colleague or a project that’s not going as smoothly as you’d hoped.”
A talent manager provides a listening ear and offers independent advice on how to approach these conversations. “Because we have a bit more distance, we can look at situations more objectively and work with you to find solutions,” Floris explains.
“Take, for instance, the biannual performance review. Often, this is the first serious conversation you’ll have with your manager. The manager provides feedback but also asks about any challenges you’re facing. This can feel quite daunting. We help you prepare for that conversation and identify the best questions to ask.”
Want guidance from a talent manager?
Check our traineeships for more information! Would you rather chat with a recruiter to find out what suits you best? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
