The Stages Of Career Development
The Stages Of Career Development
What are the stages of Career Development?
Every career is different, but
the professional path chosen maybe similar. For an average employee there
maybe, common career stages. From childhood these stages evolve into an
ambition, a dream and finally with hard work and persistence becomes a reality.
Each stage is not set in stone. There will be changes and challenges and sometimes
even uncertainty. But at all levels there should be constant learning and
growing.
One perspective on career
development is the career stage approach. A person's life or career can be
summarized by pointing out typical events, difficulties, or responsibilities
that most people encounter as their lives or careers develop. According to
Freud and other psychologists, a person's personality, intelligence, and
morality all develop in a predictable pattern that is strongly related to their
age. People develop through distinct stages that are separated by transitional
times.
Stage views of
career development have their limitations. It is applicable to a typical
individual. Since all individuals are unique, they may not have the same
experiences. Therefore, career development stages differ from individual to
individual due to obvious difference in perceived internal career. (Base, M. K., 2021)
(Indeed Editorial Team, 2023)
1. EXPLORATION / AGE RANGE 21-25
The
stage before permanent employment is one of exploration. This is the period
when one is looking for professional ambitions. You will be influenced by your
family, friends, education and definitely personality and upbringing.
This
is the stage where one will ideally be:
*
Discovering interests
*
Developing basic skills
*
Creating expectations.
2. ESTABLISHMENT /AGE RANGE 25-35
This
stage includes your initial stages of job hunting, applying for a job and accepting your
first long term job.
Career
development, learning and establishing yourself is key in this stage. You will
face new situations and people and the realities of life.
The
main aspects of this stage are
*
Learning your new job
*
Gaining acceptance from peers
*
Developing and improving skills
Many
employees reach their peak levels of productivity and maintain a skill specific
to their role. This stage is characterized by career stability or transition
into a new field or profession. This is the time when many will juggle work
life balance and also have expectations of progression in their career or chose
to move onto an entirely different career.
This
stage you will
*
Expect a promotion/pay rise
*
Assess yourself and reevaluate your goals, interests and skills
4. LATE CAREER / AGE 45-55
There
is now an opportunity for a less demanding work environment. Instead of
training or upskilling, you can be the one who mentors or coaches those below.
There will be fewer or no opportunities for promotion. But you can become a
mentor. You will have to look realistically at retirement, so it is best to
start looking for interests outside of work.
You
can
*
Speak to the HR Department and a financial advisor so that you can plan your
finances.
*
Join an alumni
*
Become a mentor/coach
5. DECLINE /
This
is the time that many people retire after having a career for several years.
You will be ideally spending more time with family and friends.
Depending
on your health, lifestyle and finances, you can
*
Work part-time
*
Do free-lance consulting
*
Find another full-time job
(Indeed Editorial Team, 2023)
Theoretical foundation
Inkson, Gunz, Ganesh
and Roper (2012, p. 324) point out that the relationships between individuals
and their work can be represented by the notion of a career, which “[...]
uniquely connects individuals with organizations and other social institutions
over time.” The definition of a career is that of Arthur, Hall and Lawrence
(1989, p. 8), as “[...] the unfolding sequence of a person’s work experiences
over time.” Thus, if career involves an individual’s work experiences (Arthur
et al., 1989), the career stages point out the needs, attitudes, values, and
concerns (Douglas & Swartz, 2016; Kooij & Boon, 2018; Dutta et al.,
2019) of this individual at certain stages of their career. Nagy, Froidevaux
and Hirschi (2019) emphasize that the needs of workers change over time and are
associated with different contextual factors, which reveals the importance of
understanding how changes occur throughout the career stages. (
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In conclusion
Always remember the journey is as
important as the destination itself. Always keep learning and developing,
gaining skills and competencies that will help you both professionally. These stages
are only a guideline as each person has their own path to take. It maybe that
financial issues may come up and you will have to go another way. Or as it has
happened to many, an injury could befall you and incapacitate you. Or you might
find that your job no longer makes you happy. Remember all these can be overcome
with hard work, dedication and perseverance.
References.
Base, M. K., 2021. mbaknol.com.
[Online]Available at: https://www.mbaknol.com/human-resource-management/stages-of-career-development/[Accessed 18 August 2023].
Indeed Editorial Team, 2023. indeed.com. [Online]Available at: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/career-stages[Accessed 17 August 2023].
Nagila Giovanna Silva Vilela and Tania Casado, 2021. Career Stages In Management studies. a systematic review, 1 July, pp. 62-77.
Agreed, Gysbers (2010) states that while the concept of career stages offers a framework for general understanding, it's important to recognize that every individual's path is unique and influenced by various factors such as personality, circumstances, and opportunities. Nonetheless, these stages serve as guideposts that can help individuals, organizations, and policymakers make informed decisions regarding career planning, employee retention, and personal development.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct Divvigga.Also it is always best to be aware of each stage of one's career so that one knows the highest extent that one can aspire to as well as the different paths that can arise from the experience gained at each level.
DeleteAgreed, The career stages approach is a way to look at career development. It divides a person's career into different phases, each with its own unique challenges and opportunities. The five stages are exploration, establishment, mid-career, late career, and decline. (Feldman, D.C. & Bolino, M.C. 1996). The theoretical foundation of this approach is that people's needs, attitudes, values, and concerns change over time as they progress through their careers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gayani.It is true that people's needs,values and concerns do change over the years. The greatest challenge in recent times was facing the pandemic.Jobs and lives were disrupted and people who were resilient and adaptable, were able to overcome the challenges presented in a better manner.
DeleteCareer development typically involves several stages. Exploration occurs early, as individuals identify interests and skills. Establishment follows, where one secures a job and gains experience. The mid-career phase involves growth, expertise building, and advancement. In the late-career stage, employees may reassess goals and plan for retirement. Lifelong learning is vital throughout, adapting to industry changes. Each stage contributes to a fulfilling and evolving professional journey.
ReplyDeleteNice article and a good read.
Thanks Ralph.
DeleteEach stage has its ups and downs and the lessons and experience gained in each stage is vital to the continued development of an individual both professionally and in a personal capacity.
Well, describe the career stage approach in a simple manner for others to understand. It encourages others to understand their own current stage and take the necessary steps to plan and move forward. It also reveals the importance of understanding how changes occur throughout the career stages. Further, this approach also enables targeted succession planning, leading to a more skilled and prepared leadership pipeline. Ultimately, understanding the career stage approach enables organisations to optimise their human capital investment, aligning individual aspirations with organisational objectives and fostering a cohesive and productive workforce.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nuwan. It is important to have an overall understanding of the stages in career development. Then it is possible to plan a suitable strategy for progress. However one must keep in mind that change is always possible and facing challenges are guaranteed. One must be flexible in their approach so that they can adjust their trajectory as needed.
DeleteThe content provides a structured overview of career development stages based on age ranges and common experiences. These stages include Exploration (age 21-25), Establishment (age 25-35), Mid-Career (age 35-45), Late Career (age 45-55), and Decline (age 55-65).
ReplyDeleteHowever, the approach has limitations due to individual uniqueness, leading to varying experiences. The content acknowledges general patterns and highlights the diversity of individual experiences.
A good reading.
Thanks Nalin. Yes its true that each person will not have the same experiences. Yet it is always wise to be open-minded to new opportunities that may be presented. Nowadays people are living longer and want to contribute and work as long as possible. So learning new things at any stage is always a great way to keep updated and challenge oneself.
DeleteWell defined. Career development is a highly customized process because the stages are not sequential and can be impacted by shifting circumstances, hobbies, or ambitions.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wasantha.As people gain experience ,they realize that it is not always about the money.Older generations will stay at the same place from start to retirement. But today people want satisfaction and positive experiences from their work and are willing to change careers entirely to get that emotional engagement.
DeleteGreat Article!! In addition to the points you've provided, It's important to remember that these stages are not necessarily ordered, and people may move between them depending on their own requirements, opportunities, and objectives. Furthermore, not everyone goes through each step, and the timetable can vary significantly. Career growth is a dynamic process that is driven by individual goals, external factors, and the evolving nature of the workforce. By providing advice, support, and resources to enable people to make wise career decisions, career development specialists, mentors, and coaches play a role in helping people move through these stages. (Shiyani, 2019) Do you think an individual can achieve all these carrier stages without the support of their higher authorities?
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenifer. Though it is possible to make decisions by themselves regarding their career development, it is highly probable that at some stage they will ask an opinion or advice from someone, whether it is their colleague, supervisor ,a professional career guide or at the very minimum from a trusted friend or elder. When you're going to make decisions about something that you're going to be doing on a daily basis for most of your adult life ,you will want to get varied opinions and ideas to see possible and probable outcomes.Because any change comes with its challenges, so it is always better to get a different perspective about the benefits and the disadvantages before committing to the decison.
DeleteInteresting article. According to Shiyani(2022) perceptions are changing-fast. The way people used to views careers decades ago stands changed. The cut-throat competition, economic slowdown, globalization and so on have led to the phenomena of downsizing, mergers, takeovers, mergers and consolidations, dual-career couples and outsourcing, all of which are responsible for the change of perception of people about careers. Furthermore, career development is an ongoing process. It's important to revisit your goals and make adjustments as needed. By taking the time to develop your career, you can achieve your goals and find satisfaction in your work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sachini.You have correctly pointed out about the changing perceptions on career. Indeed globalization and economic slowdown have contributed to varying challenges. Career development is an ongoing process, so one must make the necessary adjustments whether in learning new skills or training and developing in others to gain the desired objectives.
DeleteIt was a good reading.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to note that the stages of career development are limited. They are most applicable to the average person. They assume a common trajectory of experience. Individual uniqueness plays a significant role. This causes variations in career development stages. Because people differ in the characteristics and circumstances they bring to the table, their career trajectories can differ significantly based on how they perceive and how other people perceive.
Thank you for your comment Niro. Yes career development is based on similar experiences to predict the development and path. This may apply for most individuals. However there is always a possibility for change and definitely today, more opportunities and options are presenting itself. Therefore choices are available even for those following traditional career paths.
DeleteAgreed. This article provides a comprehensive explanation of the stages of career growth as well as an understanding of where we are in that stage and the kinds of decisions that will be appropriate.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Indeed Editorial team (2023) ,in order to distinguish your goals throughout your working life, career phases are crucial. While some phases give stability and promote relaxation, others require ambition and foster progress. Having a broad framework for your career might make it easier for you to assess where you are now and make plans for the future.
Thanks Praba.Yes its always good to be flexible in your career development. If you are not open-minded or flexible there are possibilities that you may lose better career opportunities.
DeleteInteresting! Career, according to Keith Davis is a sum of all the jobs an individual holds throughout his/her working life. A career path is the successive pattern of jobs that comes together to form an individual’s career. Career goals are all the positions an individual strives to attain in the future throughout their career. Career planning is a series of meticulous steps an individual takes in the selection of career goals as well as the paths that will lead to the actualization of such goals. Career management is the process of designing and implementing career goals through planning and strategies that will help an organization satisfy the employees’ needs while allowing them to attain their career goals.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to plotting your career path from age 20 to 70, most career advice doesn’t always go as expected for everyone. This is because career advice that helps individual “A” sail through the various stages of his/her career life and still achieve their set career goals may not work or fail miserably for individual “B.”
Agreed Hasini.No two individuals career paths are the same .It depends on the character, personality and circumstances faced by each person will shape their career. Its important to keep in mind that failure at any stage is not the end.There is always something that can be done. There are many individuals who have failed in the early stages of their career, but have done well in the latter parts and vice versa.
Delete