Where Do IABC Members’ Strengths Lie? Results From the Career Assessment Tool

This is the second installment of a series of monthly thought-leadership pieces entitled “IABC Research & Insights.” These pieces present a unique perspective, based on proprietary IABC data and the views of the authors. We hope this article, and the ones that follow, spark discussions at the chapter, regional and international levels.

Almost 500 people have used IABC's Career Assessment tool since it was officially released two months ago and the data yields interesting results.

IABC developed the assessment to enable communication professionals to determine their current career milestone (foundational; generalist/specialist; strategic advisor; business leader) by self-rating their skills and knowledge — on a seven-point scale — in the six principles of the IABC Global Standard.

Immediately after completing the assessment, the communication professional receives an individualized report outlining strengths and potential focus areas for career development, with links to IABC resources. The report helps individuals consider how to expand career development by engaging in learning at the local, regional or international levels.

The Average Assessment to Date is at the Strategic Advisor Milestone

On the seven-point scale, the average result for the full assessment was a 4.6, just over the line to the strategic advisor milestone (4.6-6.5). While those taking the assessment are a self-selecting group, the average score (thus far) suggests positive news for both individuals and IABC.

For individuals, it means that they are accomplished in their discipline, but open to additional skills and knowledge. For the organization, the results indicate that the full array of career resources and mentoring opportunities at IABC have a receptive audience, able to serve professionals at key junctures in their careers.     

The Highest Ranked Principle is Strategy

The average score for each of the six principles ranged from 4.1 to 5.0. The highest-rated principle is strategy, followed by context and then consistency. The lowest-rated principle is analysis. We will take a deeper look at the data to determine if we can identify patterns that would explain the dichotomy between the highest- and lowest-ranked competencies.

IABC’s Remarkable Diversity is on Display: Individuals from 38 Countries Participated

Displaying the breadth of our community, 38 countries were represented in the initial data review. While Canada and the U.S. made up approximately half of the respondents (240), other countries produced significant numbers, including Australia (50), India (15), Nigeria (15) and the U.K. (11).

The Assessment tool is a useful resource to help communication professionals gauge their current competencies and highlight the benefits of all IABC has to offer. We will continue to provide insights from the data we collect and share with members around the world. For more information, please email Tilden Katz, IABC chief communications officer, at tkatz@iabc.com.