A career path is a tool that helps to define a person’s professional growth within a company. It is a shared roadmap that connects an employee’s expectations with an organisation’s needs.
As well as promotions or role changes, a career path encompasses learning and skills development, providing opportunities for internal growth.
Why are they important?
Because when people see a clear future within the company, their motivation, engagement and retention increase. Career paths are key to:
How to implement them with purpose
A career path should be realistic and personalised, as well as being aligned with the company’s strategy. Here are a few steps to help you do this effectively:
You can’t build professional paths without a clear structure of roles and functions. It is essential to have an overview of the organisation and identify genuine growth opportunities.
Link each stage of the plan to specific skills, attitudes and knowledge. This helps teams set concrete development goals.
Career paths should be based on honest conversations: What does the employee expect? What can the company offer? The key is to create shared journeys, not imposed ones.
The needs of the company and its employees evolve over time. Plans should be reviewed regularly and adapted as necessary.
What if there’s no room for promotion?
Not all companies can offer constant promotions. Growth can also come from new projects, greater autonomy, changes in role, or learning new skills. The most important thing is that people feel they can progress within the organisation.
Implementing career paths creates real growth opportunities that benefit both employees and the company.
At Axxon People Consulting, we can help you design and implement career development processes that align with your company’s structure and culture.
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