In discussing career development vs career progression, though often used interchangeably, the concepts of career development and career progression mean different things. Whilst it’s common to have the two appearing in the same sentence or reference, one needs to be done for the other to come into being.
Career Development vs Career Progression
This article explains the individual concepts, their differences and why the two are relevant towards having a fulfilling career. For the purpose of the comparison, Career Development vs Career Progression. We will have to define both terms.
What is Career Development?
This refers to the different steps, actions and or strategies used by a professional with the aim of becoming a better version and aiming for the top-most positions in the field.
The goal is to take on or engage in tangible and consistent steps that do not only equip you with new skills and experiences, but also prepares you to handle the future roles that come with it.
Examples of Career Development
One is said to be developing in the career or field of endeavor when the person starts taking conscious steps to improve the skillset. The following are some common examples that hallmark a developing career person:
- Building new and valuable skills in your area of expertise.
- Taking professional courses to sharpen your intellect and be better-positioned for the opportunities that come with those.
- Expanding your relationship and networking skills by ways of learning how to communicate and gaining the trust of other people.
What is Career Progression?
Also referred to as career growth, this term refers to the systematic increase in one’s professional life, by way of moving from one position to the other. Often described as the “long-term journey of career or professional development,” it helps one move from one career level to another.
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As to be expected, being developed in the professional realm is a major factor that influences whether you get to progress or become redundant as an employer or business executive.
These definitions form the core of the discussion on career development vs career progression.
Examples of Career Progression
Growth in career can take place in different ways, such as:
- Advancing from a current position at the workplace to a higher one by virtue of gaining new skills and or certifications.
- Moving from one point of the career ladder to the other due to promotions offered either because of years of meritorious service or the need to fill an existing vacuum created by an absent or resigned employer/executive.
- Establishing a private business and opting to resign from the current employment to focus on it.
Differences between Career Development and Career Progression
Let’s now look at some of the reasons why the development and progression in your line of work are not the same.
1. Hierarchy
In terms of which comes first, career development takes the lead for the reason that a professional who continually improves on the skillsets get hired.
When your skills are polished, you may then qualify and or be considered to be taken up the next ladder of organizational hierarchy by way of promotions or recommendations.
2. The Timeframe is Different
Engaging in activities that allow you acquire more professionals certifications or skills is important and has a lot to do with time. Thus, you can differentiate between career growth and career development based on their timeframe.
- Whilst you can develop new skills within a year or two, it may take a longer while to get a promotion or lifted to a higher level at the workplace.
- Career development helps you acquire new skillsets in a shorter time while you keep preparing to advance to the next level of your career.
3. Versatility of the Approaches
Generally, most of what is done while developing in a career are centered on the individual, which could be the employee or one of the executives.
- Career development vs career progression
While career development deals with the skills one learns to become advanced in knowledge, career growth/progression can take place in both ways:
- Getting promoted at the workplace. For example, you could be transferred from being a social media manager to coordinating the overall digital presence of the company.
- Other than earning a promotion to a more senior position, you can also choose to transition from the current workplace and take up an offer from another company, especially if the new role relates to your present job position and skillset.
4. What’s the End Goal?
Have you figured out what you choose to get at the end of the attempts to develop in your career? The end goal or possible outcome is where the similarities between career progression and career development path ways. While the latter focus on the skills and how you intend to achieve the goals, the former has to do with the ambition, objectives and strategies you have in place to climb up the professional ladder.
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Wrapping Up
Career progression and career development are two popular terminologies that set the tone for a fulfilling life in the work ecosystem. You must use the latter to develop skills and pay attention to how to achieve your goals and leverage the former to move from one point of the professional ladder to another.
Finally, combining the two can be a win-win for both the employer and the employees in the sense that businesses wouldn’t be losing most of their staff to competitors, provided the workers are assured of a progression in the corporate ladder as and when due.