The dictionary definition of job as given by dictionary.com is: “a piece of work, esp. a specific task done as part of the routine of one's occupation or for an agreed price”. For an organization, it is of utmost importance to have a clear job definition or description. Such a description would arise from the goals and objectives of the company. When an organization hires individuals, it hires them for a specific job, often, it is the high performing individuals that define their career path and move forward from one job to another, within or outside the company. Thus, to attract and retain the best talent, it is even more important to have a career design and not just a job design.

Long running and successful companies have employees that stay back for a long time with them. General Electric is a typical example where many of the top management are GE old timers. How do companies like GE and IBM manage to retain the top notch employees and give them the best work options? The answer lies in having a solid career management system.

Define Career Map

It is important to define a career map and make it available to all employees. By looking at such a career map, an employee can figure what his long term goal should be and what are the intermediate steps to get there. The career map created should be associated with the key skills and skill levels required for each role. Such a system gives the employee a clear view of the skills and competencies to be developed. Motivated employees with the support of the organization can choose and make the career of his choice.

Career Counselling

It is a practice in some organizations where the senior management spends time in advising or counsel the junior staff on career choices available for them. Apart from the practitioners, the expert career counsellors from the human resources department also hold such sessions. In companies like TCS it is believed that each employee has a career manager associated with him. Thus, in such companies the counselling takes the form of mentoring which is far more effective and complete.

Another practice followed in companies such as IBM or SAP AG is to pair promising junior staff with senior managers in the organization. Working with these senior managers, it gives the juniors a close insight into the functioning of the company. It also helps in instilling the company culture in the next generation of managers.

Career Review

Along with the annual performance appraisal review, it is important to have a career plan review for the employees. Typically driven by the supervisor or the HR manager, the career review serves as a reality check for the employees. Often issues that lie dormant get raised in such forums and can be tracked to closure.

Designing jobs is tactical in nature, no doubt it is extremely important, but designing careers for its employees is strategic for a company. The risk that a company faces by not designing a career plan for its employees is loss of key employees. Designing careers is not only one step ahead of designing jobs; it also creates the next level of succession for the company.