What is a career framework?
A career framework is the set of levels, expectations and rules an organization uses to describe how people grow in their roles and get promoted.
What a career framework includes
It usually includes a career ladder for each job family, the skills or competencies expected at each level, how progress is assessed, and how promotion decisions are made. Many also explain the specialist and manager tracks and how to move between teams.
Why it matters
It makes growth predictable. People can see what the next level asks for, and promotions are judged against the same written criteria rather than against whoever argues best.
Example
| Skill | Area | Sales Development Representative | Account Executive | Senior Account Executive | Sales Team Lead | Head of Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound Prospecting | Prospecting | Proficient | Proficient | Proficient | Advanced | Advanced |
| Commercial Negotiation | Deal Management | Novice | Proficient | Advanced | Advanced | Expert |
| Sales Forecasting | Commercial | Novice | Basic | Proficient | Advanced | Expert |
| Deal Coaching | Sales Leadership | Novice | Novice | Proficient | Advanced | Expert |
What is expected changes as people move up: prospecting is expected from the first level and changes little, while coaching other sellers starts at the lowest rating and becomes a core skill at the top of the ladder.
Source: B2B sales career path
Career framework vs career ladder
A career ladder is one sequence of levels for one job family. A career framework is the wider system: the ladders for every job family, the competencies behind each level, and the process for moving up or across.
Related
- More real examples: Customer success career path · Digital marketing career path
- Other definitions: Skills matrix · Competency matrix · Competency framework · Career ladder
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