What Is Career Development?

Career development is a process that involves individuals assessing their skills and interests, exploring job options and goals and developing plans to achieve those objectives. It’s important to note that while career development may take place in the workplace, it doesn’t necessarily have to be done through your employer.

It’s a great idea to create a career plan and use it as a guide for professional growth. Having concrete goals to work toward will help employees set realistic expectations and feel less pressure, while also motivating them to continue taking proactive steps to reach those objectives. This might include pursuing additional education or training, attending workshops and conferences, networking and even seeking out mentorship opportunities.

In addition to identifying areas of opportunity, a well-defined career development plan can be used to identify and fill skill gaps that prevent an employee from progressing within their current role or even their desired field. For instance, if an employee is proficient in pay-per-click advertising but has no experience with search engine optimization, it might be worthwhile for them to seek out training courses or volunteer to take on projects that will build up those skills.

It’s important to regularly review and reevaluate your career development plan to ensure you’re on track to meet your long-term goals. It’s also a good idea to find out about programs, workshops and resources that are available through your employer or in your community. And don’t forget to celebrate the small milestones along the way!