Definition
The term used to describe the historical sequence of jobs or positions held over one's working life is career path. The term can also be used to describe the logical progression of future jobs that an employee strives to hold in order to meet their long-term career objectives.
Explanation
In today's work environment, the employee, their manager, and a member of the human resources department will often work together to develop a career path for an employee. Ultimately, the employee is responsible for making sure they have a career path that enables them to achieve their workplace goals.
Creating a career path or plan consists of three steps:
Personal Assessment: understanding past accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, as well as future career objectives.
Planning: alignment of long term career aspirations balanced with non-work objectives, geography / location of jobs, compensation, responsibilities. Plans are needed to ensure objectives are realized.
Check: it's important to assess plans over time, making sure the long term direction remains aligned with changing aspirations.
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Related Terms
- The process or tools an individual can use to gain insights into their likes and dislikes at work is called a career assessment. Typically, this is a formal process and the career assessment is conducted by an outside service provider or administered through a detailed questionnaire.
Moneyzine EditorSeptember 25th, 2023 
Personal career goals, established by professionals in the workplace, are often referred to as career objectives. These are the goals an individual plans to accomplish, hoping to reach their full potential as a member of the workforce. A well-written career objective outlines the specific actions to be taken to reach both long and short term goals.Moneyzine EditorNovember 22nd, 2023- The term career coach refers to a professional that works with clients to achieve both their employment and career aspirations. Career coaches will provide their clients with advice on a number of topics, including employment opportunities, skills development, as well as how to go about changing careers.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 25th, 2023
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- The term job shadowing refers to working alongside another employee to learn about their organization, skills, roles, and responsibilities. Job shadowing provides an opportunity for participants to share knowledge, hone their leadership skills, and have a better understanding of their career options.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term job sharing refers to an arrangement involving two or more part-time employees responsible for the duties of one full-time position. Job sharing can also involve two or more part-time employees apportioning the budget for a full-time employee.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term Occupational Outlook Handbook refers to an employment resource that provides information on hundreds of professions and trades. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; information is derived from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term placement test refers to an assessment that can help an individual identify optimal jobs and career paths. Placement tests take into consideration factors such as the individual's aptitude, interests, personality, skills, and values.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
- The term talent management is used to describe a set of processes that ensure a company has a high-performance workforce. A talent management organization will be part of human resources, and is responsible for processes that range from recruiting employees through performance management.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 26th, 2023
