HACKER Q&A
📣 bjankovic

Do you think a well-defined career framework is crucial for companies?


Hello, Hacker News community!

I'd like to kick off a discussion about career development frameworks (CDF) and their significance for companies. In today's fast-paced job market, companies are constantly challenged to retain talent, foster growth, and maintain a competitive edge.

A CDF provides employees with clear goals, a structured path for growth, and a roadmap for advancement within the organization.

However, not all companies have embraced CDF, and this can lead to a range of problems: - Uncertainty: Without a CDF, employees may lack clarity about their career paths, resulting in uncertainty about their future within the organization. - Retention Issues: The absence of a structured career path can contribute to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates. - Competitive Disadvantage: In a competitive job market, companies without effective CDF may struggle to attract and retain top talent. - Missed Growth Opportunities: Employees may miss out on opportunities for skill development and career growth, potentially hindering innovation within the organization.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this topic. 1. Do you believe that a well-defined career development framework is crucial for companies in today's landscape? 2. Have you experienced the impact of not having a CDF, either as an employee or employer? 3. What are your insights on the challenges and benefits associated with CDF?

  👤 bhag2066 Accepted Answer ✓
With the greatest respect, I think you answered your own question. Maybe some companies purposely don't have them to keep employee expenses down?
👤 codingdave
The most mind-blowing discussion I ever had about career progression was on my 2nd day at a bank, talking with the CTO. He said, "I'm not trying to retain any of you, I just hope to get 2-3 years from people and then expect they'll move on."

He got his wish.

But it was eye-opening. The needs of an individual employee to grow their career are not always matched up with any needs the leadership has to grow the career of their employees. If they can get by with mediocre talent that is cheap and turns over regularly, they will.

So is a framework crucial for companies? No. It is more important when the success of the company is directly tied to the talent of the staff. But it is surprising how many tech jobs just keep the lights on and don't need top talent.