Career development is valued differently by different people, but for many people, a successful career is a significant contributor to personal happiness and financial security, among other things. When a person takes the time to set career goals and make a plan to achieve them, she will frequently find that her job responsibilities and pay increase steadily. Workers who neglect their professional development may find themselves stuck in dead-end jobs that are at best unsatisfying. Other aspects of a worker’s life may suffer as a result.
Getting their first real job is a significant accomplishment for many young people. However, they rarely have the intention of staying in the position for which they were hired indefinitely. Instead, the young person might want to advance in his or her current company or field. He may also intend to use his current job as a stepping stone to a new career or occupation in some cases. For new employees, the importance of career development is to make them aware of the opportunities available to them and how they can best achieve their work objectives.
The importance of career development may differ for those who have been in the workforce for a long time or those who have been out of the workforce for a long time. Job skills and, in some cases, entire occupations, can become obsolete. Even if a worker does not aspire to be in upper management or own a business, career counseling and vocational planning can be beneficial. As a result, he will be aware of industry trends that may jeopardize his job security and will be able to take steps to improve his current skills or obtain training in other areas in order to ensure his future employment. Assistance may be available through social service agencies as well as public employment services for those who have been out of work.
Many employers also emphasize the importance of career advancement. These employers typically want their employees to succeed and advance in their careers, and they may offer services to employees who want to stay with the company while also progressing in their fields. Employees who show a strong interest in developing their career options may be more likely to be considered for promotion within the company as well as choice job assignments if these services are provided by the human resources department.