Modern developments in the field of human resources, however, have thrown both business managers and workers for a loop. The demands of businesses nowadays, are not the same as that of businesses in the past. Now, companies need innovative, creative, and multifunctional people in order to survive.

The advent of the internet and computer technologies, for instance, has put paid to archaic hiring criteria. Now, human resource managers need computer literate employees. Whereas in the past, you could get hired as long as you had the requisite education and experience needed for the job, you can lose out to someone who has less experience but is more technology-savvy than you are.

These developments in the field of human resources are becoming more and more apparent. In fact, you’ll find it very hard to find people who stay with one company for decades. More and more, people gain corporate experience then look for greener pastures (not necessarily in the same field or the same career path) or establish their own business.

Implications for Career Advancement and Career Management

Career advancement and career management, instead of becoming obsolete, have actually gained even more importance. If people can expect to change companies and even jobs many times in their working life, they need to plan and manage their career even more if they are to advance.

Career advancement now, however, can no longer be perceived as linear. Increasing career transition tendencies indicate that one can advance horizontally (moving from one field to another) rather than vertically (moving up the corporate or career ladder). Career advancement, nowadays, means acquiring skills that may be necessary in the future.

For career advancement to be possible, therefore, career management should be rigorously undertaken. We must never stop learning and training for new opportunities. We must never be content with what we know now. Rather, we must look forward and learn what we need to know to prepare us for a possibly different future than what we have once envisioned for ourselves.

This is not to say, however, that we should just go into any career without thought nor planning. We should have a definite plan, but it should be flexible. For instance, you can group various career paths that you can imagine undertaking – then manage your career in such a way that you’ll find it no hardship to move from one path to another then back again, if necessary. Career advancement and career management have simply changed face, that’s all.