AOL Overview

We look at professional development through four lenses: Learning, Performance Management, Career Management and Leadership Development.

Learning
AOL encourages employees to have a desire and curiosity to learn. We support a dynamic learning culture where you can learn all day, everyday via formal and informal learning opportunities. Our online training portal, AOLU, provides access to instructor-led training and thousands of online learning resources through SkillSoft and Books 24x7. We also welcome employees to tap into the knowledge of those around them by joining a business resource or employee interest group, attending an AOLU sponsored leadership speaker event and participating in other exciting internal learning events. At AOL, we want employees to feel empowered to embrace learning and think big!

Career Management
A comprehensive Career Management site is available to help employees explore and define their current and future career goals, align resources to meet development needs and put plans into action. Mentoring and 360 feedback programs give both individuals and managers the opportunity to understand how they are perceived, and where they should focus their development efforts.

The Technologies Mentoring program has expanded my network by providing information about, and access to, groups both in Technologies and throughout the company. By listening to my mentor's perspective and through sharing my thoughts and ideas, my knowledge on topics such as corporate culture, leadership, and vision, has broadened. In some cases, I have brought particular business situations to my mentor and asked for guidance. I have been able to apply that guidance and then follow-up on what worked, what did not.

The mentoring program is important to me because I see it as a growth opportunity that supplements the learning I already receive through taking courses and reading, and does it in a way that those methods of learning can not. The mentoring program opens the door to experienced leaders throughout Technologies who are giving their time to help a colleague grow in their career. Mentoring allows you to seek guidance from someone with more knowledge and experience, and a different perspective. How many times in your career do you have ready access to a mentor? How many people go through their careers without access to mentor? Everyone should have a mentor for their professional career. Getting matched with a mentor does not get any easier than this and you get the opportunity to meet someone new and learn from their experiences. That is a gift."

– Julie, Program Director

Performance Management
The ability to tie individual goals to the company's strategy is critical to our success. AOL employees create performance goals, establish development plans and track progress throughout the year with SuccessFactors, our performance management tool. Creating and achieving great performance goals is just one part of being a truly great performer. Our best also live and demonstrate the AOL Values everyday. In addition, we believe that regular feedback, throughout the year is a gift and paramount to success.

Leadership Development
Whether employees start in a leadership position or build a plan to get there, AOL offers a series of leadership development programs designed to help transition through each career stage – beginning with core management programs and progressing from there to more in-depth leadership training like Leading Leaders.

My director created goals for his managers at the beginning of the year to increase our value as leaders in our department while participating in a 360 feedback. He tasked me with attending the Leading Others class. One of the key learning points for me was effectively using delegation as a manager so I can be more productive while also allowing members of my team to become more engaged in their career development by learning and growing into future leadership roles. Meeting with other talented leaders in the company and participating in such a structured program has equipped me with tools that I may not necessarily have had before attending the class. As an AOL employee it is very important to have access to training and opportunities for professional development. I am excited about what the future holds for AOL and I want to be a part of it."

- Earnest, Network Operation Manager, Virginia

Internal networking is just as important to career management, especially since many of our employees have to work across teams, brands, and continents.

Our Total Rewards philosophy supports your lifestyle and gives you peace of mind so you can focus on what's important to you -- family, work, and life. We offer a wide range of benefit choices that enable you to design or select the benefits package that fits your needs.

Total Rewards also include competitive compensation, flexible time-away options, learning opportunities and a strong belief that each individual needs support to balance work and life. Sounds nice, but can we back it up? We asked some of our employees to share how AOL "benefits" their life.

Jasleen works in our Bangalore office. An alternative work arrangement gave her the flexibility to take care of herself first.

Due to some issues in the earlier phase of pregnancy, I was asked by my doctor to avoid travelling. Then my manager told me about a work from home policy which I availed for a month. I worked from home for a month, recovered and went back to the office. I could deliver the assigned tasks on time and with less stress. I feel great to be part of AOL where the management cares for its employees.
– Jasleen, Software QA Engineer, Bangalore

Allison works for AOL Media in Virginia and takes advantage of our LEED certified child development center on campus.

My two young children are at the AOL Daycare on our Dulles campus. The proximity to our office makes it easy to interact with my kids during special reading time or art projects with the class. I feel extremely fortunate to work here and have a top notch school for my children. The center's program coupled with the convenience would be difficult to match elsewhere.
– Allison, AOL Media, Virginia

We take great care in hiring new AOLers. We want to match your unique talents and passions with a position that allows you to flourish professionally and personally. That is why we assess each candidate on both their critical skills and core values. Our assessments, such as the Cultural Assessment, help us to get to know you on a deeper level than just your resumé.

Through the hiring process, you will have the opportunity to meet with 3-5 AOLers from different roles across the company. Cross interviewing ensures a fair evaluation while also giving you the opportunity to learn more about AOL through the lenses of different employees.

Finally, a hiring committee will review your profile to ensure that you are the right hire to join AOL's team of bright and innovative employees.