Iress : Hacking a new set of career skills

One way to support the attraction and retention of our best people, is by continually providing opportunities to help them navigate their own career paths. And while we often think of learning and development in terms of receiving formal training, the reality is that it's actually much more than that and it is far more about experience, opportunity and mindset of the individual.

As part of my career growth, one thing I've learnt along the way is the importance of seizing the opportunities that present themselves, especially if they take me out of my comfort zone.

Global hackathon

An opportunity for individuals to do this, is our Global Hackathon which kicks off on 9 May. It's a special event that gives our people the freedom to think differently and to try new things - the perfect chance for them to seek out growth opportunities.

Hackathons are something we've championed for a number of years. And it's great to see the concept adopted outside of the tech companies they originated from as they can produce so much more than just tech innovation and learnings.

Here's three reasons why they are being adopted so widely.
1. Learning new skills

In our organisation the innovative nature of hackathon cultivates an adventurous spirit, so developers who always wanted to try their hand at marketing, or an account exec with a secret passion to learn coding can do so. It's the perfect time to step outside areas of expertise and try something new.