Employment lifecycle

The employment lifecycle encompasses an employee's career through recruitment, onboarding, performance, growth and development, and exit.

Career development

Career development is an ongoing process throughout each individual's employment lifecycle that includes setting goals, exploring professional development opportunities to acquire knowledge and improve skills, and gaining new work experience, resulting in learning and growth.

When an individual's career development overlaps with the organization's business need, this creates opportunity for career progression.

Career pathway

A career pathway is a sequence of jobs that support an employee's career goals. Career pathways typically involve a series of related jobs with increasing levels of responsibility, skills, and compensation.

Career pathways can be within a job family or profession (linear), or across different job families and professions (lattice). Career pathways are accompanied by resources to help employees progress along their chosen pathways, including skill development, networking, and growth opportunities.

Career progression

Career progression is moving along a career pathway, typically while taking on new or enhanced responsibilities and acquiring new skills. Career progression may include increased compensation.

Career planning

Career planning involves determining long- and short-term career goals and identifying the activities, tasks, and resources needed to pursue those goals. Career planning is typically a collaboration between an individual and their supervisor.

Succession planning

Succession planning involves identifying and developing employees who could be candidates to take on future roles and positions in the organization. This is a proactive approach to facilitate a smooth transition of leadership and key positions by nurturing talent, enhancing skills, and preparing individuals to effectively fulfill future organizational needs.