By Elizabeth Kisebu

Career progression is simply how you move forward/upward in your career. The goal is to plan each of your roles, so you remain engaged, fulfilled and excited about your work. It’s also how you’ll get more responsibility and earn a higher salary. 

Importance/Benefits of Career Progression 

Different careers have different progression paths. Some careers have obvious and clear progression.  For those that do not, you may need to take the front foot on this one.   If you push it to one side and do not want to think about it because you don’t want to have the conversation with your boss, before you know it you will have been in the same role in the same company for 10+ years because you haven’t forward planned or thought about where you want to be in terms of your career growth. Career Growth is purely based on your own initiative and your performance. 

In short, you should be thinking about where you can progress with your role before you even start.  In the nicest way possible, your boss is not going to be thinking about this for you, they have their own job to do and their own progression to think about. Take ownership of it.   

From an employer’s perspective, it’s also important to think about it from a staff retention point of view. If employees have a clear progression path, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. 

How to hold a career progression discussion with your supervisor 

Firstly, you need to prepare.  What are you good at?  What have you achieved?  How does that position you to be successful in your next role? Write down your key accomplishments so you have tangible data. Secondly, you should describe your vision.  Where do you see yourself in one year?  Three?  Five?  Do you want to run a team?  Do you want to travel for work?  Make sure you consider the skills and knowledge you would like to develop as well as showing what you have already developed and where your strengths lie. 

Finally, make sure you ask for what you want.  Be direct and to the point, don’t be fluffy.  You want to make sure that it is absolutely clear and that it’s not going to be miscommunicated in any way.  In short, if you want a promotion or are interested in a new assignment, ASK!  Even if your boss doesn’t open every door, you can reasonably expect that they will assist you in opening them.  Promoting you will strengthen her/his reputation at the very least.   My advice would be to identify some next-step possibilities and then mutually agree on the best way forward. 

Lastly, develop your strategy.  Have a plan A, but always have a plan B – a contingency plan.  You know what your vision is, so make a plan around it. 

Tips for Career Progression

 ➢ Find a mentor 

Mentors are great.  Amongst other things, they can help you to identify and work on the skills you need to succeed at work.  They can also support you through any difficulties or challenges you are having – everything ahead of you can feel quite daunting and overwhelming, and a mentor will listen to your ideas and thoughts in a constructive and non-judgmental way. 

➢ Use Your Performance Reviews 

Feedback helps to understand what you are doing well and where you can improve.  It’s also an opportunity to set or keep track of development goals.  Performance generally speaks for itself, and you are likely to be judged based on your output. 

➢ Plan and Speak Up 

Consider creating your own personal development plan to help show clear objectives and actions.  No matter how motivated you are to move your career forward, if you don’t voice this to your leader, it’s possible that your career goals might never be fulfilled.  If you appear happy and are performing well in your career, it’s easy for your supervisor/line manager to presume that you feel satisfied in your career.  Discuss career progression opportunities with your manager and the potential ways that you could develop within the business.  After all, if they want to keep you on board, they will be happy to support your career, so you can keep moving in the right direction. 

• Stop, Revive, Thrive 

Whether you are a long way ahead on your road or whether your road ahead is a long and winding one, don’t forget to stop once in a while to clear your head.  It is safe to confirm that I come up with my best ideas when I take a step back and use the time to reflect.  If you just have work and no play, you can easily drive yourself crazy, overthink, and overcomplicate something that may not be so bad.  So, don’t forget to take a breather every now and again and most importantly, don’t feel guilty about it! 

Career progression is important to think about at every stage of your career.  You should have an idea in your head about where you want to be in whatever number of years. If you have envisioned your next ten years, don’t waste time worrying about what people will think if you voice your opinion – you know where you want to be and so it’s important to speak up for it to happen.  

Take Home Pointers on Career Path Change 

Do not be afraid to change your career, if you feel stuck, unfulfilled, and not utilizing your full potential in your current career. However, before you do, please consider these few tips: 

• Is it really that you don’t like your current career, or you are in an organisation that makes you hate your career? 
• If your answer is yes, you don’t like your current career, then you need to take time to strategize.  You can start taking up roles in your organization that gravitate towards the career you want, that way, you will have a bit of exposure and experience. 
• As you seek out more roles in your desired career, if finances allow, go back to school, and study. This will give you an edge when you start looking for jobs. 
• Apply for jobs in your desired career and be sure to enlist your success stories in the current and desired career. 
• Give your all in your current career, do not wait until you are in your desired career to give it your all. Be disciplined, have principles and be focused. This work ethic will propel you to start off your new career on a high, which will in turn work to your advantage.  
• Do not quit your current job before you get one in your desired career. Unless of course, you have everything figured out. 
• Above all, trust God, and your intuition. 

Elizabeth is a seasoned HR professional with over 13 years of experience in managing comprehensive HR functions, including talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development. Known for aligning HR strategies with business objectives, driving employee engagement, and enhancing workplace culture. Proven track record of implementing effective HR solutions and leading teams to achieve organizational success.