Event will help identify and grow future talent to support Canadian expansion plans
BURLINGTON, ON, April 7, 2016 /CNW/ - For the first time ever, IKEA has launched Talent Focus Week, a week long event taking place simultaneously in all IKEA units and countries around the world. All 155,000 co-workers worldwide, including the more than 4,330 Canadian co-workers, are invited to join Talent Weeks this week to find out about the many ways to grow and develop their career at IKEA.
"At IKEA Canada, we believe in our co-workers' ability to do their best, explore their individual and diverse talents and continue to grow both personally and professionally," says Stephen Bobko, Country Human Resources Manager, IKEA Canada. "We encourage co-workers to be curious about their growth opportunities, and explore new situations to learn."
The purpose of IKEA Talent Focus Week is to inform and engage all co-workers about the many ways to grow at IKEA. A new on-line tool, IKEA Journeys, will be launched to inspire co-workers about possible career opportunities. The tool shows inspirational stories of how various co-workers have grown and developed in their current jobs or how they have moved across units and functions, helping to show how careers can take shape within IKEA.
"Talent Week will also enhance the connection between performance and development and ensure our co-workers take the lead in their personal development," continues Bobko. "At IKEA, careers are not traditional and they are as diverse as our co-workers. Co-workers can continue to grow in their roles, or chose to develop into other functions within the organization. The opportunities are endless!"
With plans to double its presence in Canada over the next decade, IKEA aims to recruit over 4,000 new co-workers. Talent Focus Week will support this ambition by encouraging co-workers to explore possibilities in new or different roles that support our growth agenda.
At IKEA Canada, we value our co-workers. Our co-workers are a diverse group of down-to-earth, straightforward people with a passion for home furnishing who share an inspiring vision. We are extremely proud of not only the diversity of our co-workers, but also that so many have been with us for many years. In fact, our longest serving co-worker joined IKEA 37 years ago, just three years after IKEA entered the Canadian market.
Canadian co-workers agree that Talent Week is a meaningful program whereby IKEA is helping to retain talent:
"While working as a Self-serve manager we needed a temporary replacement when I went to work on a project for a few months. I suggested a co-worker who I felted has a good head on his shoulders and lots of potential. He worked nightshift, so people in the store didn't know him well. He got the job and worked his way up to Sales Manager! It's rewarding to spot talent and see people grow."
Corey, Retail Logistics Capacity and Flow Planner
"My whole life had been about IT, but eventually I started thinking, why limited myself to IT? I wanted to explore how my knowledge and competence could contribute to other fields in the IKEA world. I also knew that I wanted to feel closer to our customers. From IT in China I made the jump to retailer logistics in Canada. It is definitely mind blowing!"
Yidong, Sales Support Specialist, Retail/Service Office
The IKEA Talent Focus Week is the perfect opportunity for leaders to spot talent and a unique forum for all co-workers to have a dialogue around growing and developing in IKEA.
When you grow, IKEA grows too. Those who are looking for opportunities with IKEA will be welcomed into an engaging environment with a strong focus on people and their professional growth. To learn more about the career opportunities visit www.IKEA.ca/careers.
ABOUT IKEA CANADA
IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer with 375 stores in more than 50 countries worldwide, which are visited by 884 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 12 stores, with recently announced plans to open a 13th store in Halifax, Nova Scotia in late 2017, an eCommerce virtual store, Pick-Up and Order Points in Quebec City, Quebec and London, Whitby, St.Catharines and Windsor, Ontario with an additional Pick-Up and Order Point opening in Kitchener in spring 2016. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 25 million visitors to its stores and 75 million visitors to the IKEA.ca website. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.ca.
SOURCE IKEA Canada
Stephanie Kerr, Corporate Press Officer, [email protected], 905-637-9440 x6378
Share this article