Career Management Degree

Career management, also known as professional development or talent development, is the process of helping individuals achieve their career goals over a certain time frame. The process is ongoing and includes two key concepts: lifelong learning and building a network of personal relationships. Career management professionals are those who guide other professionals to achieve these goals, using tactics that help them fulfill their goals.

Practitioners of career management are typically independent consultants, or they may be connected with human resources consulting firms, government agencies or community-based organizations.

Career Management Degrees

To become a career manager, job candidates are typically required to possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in human resources, human resources administration, business or liberal arts. Because the field of career management is broad and combines knowledge in several disciplines, a well-rounded education combining the social sciences with business training is essential.

Career Management Job Description

Because career management is such a relatively new field of study, professionals who work in this field may do quite a number of human resources-related tasks, all related to the development of the individual worker. As such, career management professionals are a hybrid between a management consultant and an educator, often providing guidance as well as education to clients.

Their daily tasks may include:

• Assisting organizations in creating a strategy to attract, develop and retain the right team members
• Coaching executives to develop their strengths within the context of their specific organizations
• Testing and interpreting the results to provide feedback on the professional development of employees
• Giving support and guidance to employees being laid off from an organization
• Designing and delivering professional development training based on organizational goals
• Clarifying a client’s career goals, eventually drafting an action plan for the individual’s use
• Helping clients write their resumes and personal marketing materials
• Preparing a client for job interviews by teaching better communication skills
• Designing a job search strategy for the individual

Career Management Salary

According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of a career management professional is $52,120 with the top 10% earning up to $85,860. Employment in this field is expected to grow much faster than average for all other occupations.