What is career development?
Career development is a process in which an individual advances in his working career, gaining new skills, experiences and responsibilities. It is an ongoing and dynamic process that can include different stages and goals depending on the individual’s professional goals and personal aspirations. Career development can happen in many different ways, such as through education, work experience, mentoring and networking.
What does career development include?
Career development can include many different elements that help an individual advance in their career. These can be, for example:
- Education and training: Acquiring new skills and knowledge through education is a key part of career development. This can include formal education, such as university degrees, or more informal forms of education, such as workshops and online courses.
- Work experience: Practical experience in working life is valuable in terms of career development. Work experience helps an individual to develop his skills and better understand the requirements and opportunities of his field.
- Mentoring and guidance: Mentoring can provide valuable support and guidance at different stages of career development. A mentor can help an individual set goals, develop skills and navigate a career path.
- Networking: Building and maintaining professional networks can open up new opportunities and help an individual advance in their career. Networking can happen, for example, at professional events, conferences and through social media.
Steps of career development
Career development can be divided into several different stages, which can vary according to the individual’s career path and goals. In general, career development can include the following stages:
- Early career stage: This stage often includes training and getting the first jobs. The goal is to acquire basic skills and experience that will help you advance in your career.
- Middle career stage: At this stage, the individual has usually established his position in working life and may focus on specialization or management positions. The goal is to deepen expertise and expand areas of responsibility.
- Later career stage: This stage may include career advancement, such as moving into management positions, or career reorientation. The goal can also be to share information and skills with others, for example through mentoring.
The importance of career development
Career development is important from both the individual’s and the organization’s point of view. For an individual, career development offers the opportunity to achieve professional and personal goals, develop their skills and improve their quality of life. For organizations, career development is important because it helps attract and retain talented employees, improves employee engagement and productivity, and promotes organizational growth and success.
You can read more information about career development, for example, on the Urakehetsy.fi website.
