What do you want to be when you grow up? We are asked this early in our lives, and we take two paths to arrive at the answer. The traditional career path is aligned with a hierarchal structure of the individual’s work organization. First, entry into the organization where promotion upward comes from; high performance - going above and beyond job duties, and last but not least length of tenure with the organization. The individual gains experience and learning skills based on what the job requires. The individual’s path moves upward, however there are only a few top positions that are available. This means the plateau or pinnacle might be reached without having a position at the executive level. The traditional approach frames success based on achievement and the position held. The individual’s career management is placed in the organization’s hands, and there is little effort to align career with lifestyle. The protean career path moves away from the verticle path to a path that moves laterally and across different areas of interest. The responsibily is held by the individual, and the path toward success is not upward, however it leads outward and is achived by individuals’ psychological fullment and self-interests being explored. There is more career mobility as individuals reinvent the type of job or work they do. Learning is a constant process where skills are learned and transformed in preparation for other carrer endevours. Individual’s motivation moves them along either path.

Bibliography

Noe, R. (2010). Employee Training and Development (5th ed.). New York, New York, United States of America: