Career Growth Vs Career Development
By: Myjobmag Portal
Tags: Career Advice, Career Development, Career Growth

Although these two terms might sound similar and appear to be the same thing, career growth and career development are two completely different concepts. However, a combination of both is important for your career advancement plan.

This article explains what career development and career growth is, how they affect your career, what influences them, and how to achieve both.

Career growth is the gradual process of moving up the corporate ladder, from a low designation to a higher one over a period of time. When you’ve achieved career growth, you not only move up the office hierarchy, but your responsibilities also become greater, and your job title changes as well.

Example: sales representative to sales manager.

A smart professional knows that gaining experience and enhancing themselves doesn’t end after they’ve gotten the job.

They keep stepping up in their career to make themselves more promotable. When you’ve shown dedication, put in the work, acquired the necessary skills and proven to your employer that your expertise has indeed benefitted the firm, then you can be promoted.

Spending 10 years or more as a project manager or any other field, doesn’t automatically place you in a position to grow in your career.

A proven success track record in executing several projects, managing tasks efficiently, and providing tangible evidence in how your input is valuable to the company is what paves way for career growth.

A higher position means that you’ll be a supervisor to other employees and will head your own team.

If you lack leadership skills and the charisma necessary to convince your colleagues to follow you, then you may not be ready to take on leadership roles in your company.

Additionally, you’ll need to have constantly taken initiative when you were in a starting position and successfully headed group projects. Also, you’ll need to know how to manage people, and assist them in maximizing their potentials.

To lead, you need people to believe in you enough to follow you. They need to trust you and be attracted to your charisma.

Leaders have a magnetic attitude that endears people to them, it’s this attitude that makes your boss have confidence that you can head your own team and collaborate with clients and partners from other companies.

Career development is becoming more skilled and better at your field, without necessarily getting promoted. It is more dependent on self-improvement and enhancing your skills.

An example of career development is joining the company as a social media manager and becoming proficient in the use of social media management tools like Google analytics, and becoming conversant in graphic designing as well.

A person tasked with the responsibility of handing a particular job role is more inclined to take steps towards developing themselves to fit into the role, because the growth and success of the company depends on their performance.

The job market is short not of talented candidates who are readily available to recruiters and companies. Given how scarce talent is, no company wants to lose a skilled and dedicated employee who is developing themselves to add value to the company.

Being well-versed in a field, puts you in the best position to earn a higher salary. It’s no secret that experience and expertise are large determinants of earning a good pay.

Career development leads to career growth.

The more you develop your expertise and acquire new skills, the more experience you gain in your field and the closer you become to being selected for a promotion. If you want a promotion well enough, you have to put in the work.

Difference Between Career Growth And Career Development

In career growth you advance up the corporate ladder.

Your career grows based on experience.

Your skills, personality, and work performance is what helps you grow in your field.

You develop yourself to fit into your job role and advance in your career.

Aims to make you valuable in your company and more promotable.

Is based on developing your skillset and acquiring more experience.

How To Attain Career Growth And Career Development

Focus on enhancing your skills and acquiring more experience. Learn new trends in your industry and practice them in your work. Take initiative and volunteer to head a group project. Here is a list of NGO jobs or internship opportunities you can apply for Maintain a good relationship with your boss, colleagues, and clients as well. Back up your skills and experience with successfully executed projects to show as evidence when you want to ask for a promotion.

In your career, you should aim to achieve both growth and development. These two concepts inter lap with each other and are both necessary for your career advancement.

Career Growth vs Career Development FAQ:

1: What does career growth mean?

Career growth is the gradual process of moving up the corporate ladder, from a low designation to a higher one over a period of time

2: How can I improve my career development?

You can improve your career by improving your expertise, skills, gaining more experience in your field and industry.

3: Why is career growth important?

Career growth can incite a sense of security with a potential employee, knowing that in years to come they won’t be stuck in a rut repeating the same old, same old

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