Written by Amanda Kevin, Founder of ExpeditionHR
The start of a new year is always a time for reflection, goal-setting, and planning. By February, we’ve typically shaken off the post-holiday haze and are in full swing for the year ahead. This is the perfect time for HR teams to step back and reassess career development goals for their company. Career growth can look different from one business to the next, but they commonly include initiatives such as training, mentorship, and professional development that support both short-term and long-term career progression.
Here’s some information to help get you started as you build your structure and methodology for leveling up your team’s skills in 2025.
1. Assess Individual and Team Needs
Before diving into goal setting, it’s essential to evaluate the current state of the company’s workforce. What skills are most needed for the company’s success in 2025? Are there skill gaps that need to be addressed? It’s also important to understand what motivates the people on your team.
HR can help by:
- Using surveys or one-on-one interviews to gather feedback from employees about their career aspirations.
- Collaborating with managers to conduct a skills assessment to identify areas where training or upskilling could benefit both employees and the company.
- Reviewing team performance and dynamics—are there leadership gaps or opportunities for greater collaboration?
2. Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning
Gone are the days of one-and-done training sessions or performance reviews. In today’s fast-paced world, employees need ongoing opportunities to develop their skills. Creating a culture that prioritizes learning allows employees to grow and keep up with industry trends.
HR can help by:
- Encouraging managers and their employees to set individual learning goals, and provide access to courses, workshops, and certifications that align with those goals.
- Developing internal training programs or partner with external learning platforms to offer a wide range of resources.
- Setting realistic goals for how often employees should engage with learning materials—whether that’s monthly webinars, quarterly certifications, or weekly bite-sized learning modules.
3. Implement Effective Mentorship Programs
Mentorship is a proven way to fast-track career development. Pairing less experienced employees with more seasoned professionals within a company fosters knowledge sharing, encourages professional growth, and builds strong working relationships. Mentorship also gives employees a clearer understanding of the company’s vision and helps them feel more connected.
HR can help by:
- Creating a formal mentorship program that matches employees with mentors based on shared goals, values, or skill sets.
- Encouraging mentors to help mentees set clear career development goals and provide guidance and feedback on how to achieve them.
- Monitoring the success of mentorship programs and offer regular check-ins to ensure both the mentor and mentee are benefiting from the relationship.
4. Support Career Pathing and Internal Mobility
Employees want to know that they have a future with the company, and offering a career path creates clear pathways for advancement. Helping employees visualize their future with the company makes them feel more committed and motivated.
HR can help by:
- Creating career roadmaps for employees, outlining potential growth paths based on their current skills and interests.
- Encouraging internal mobility by promoting open roles to existing employees first, and by fostering a culture where lateral moves are viewed as growth opportunities, not setbacks.
- Offering leadership development programs for high-potential employees who might eventually take on more senior roles.
5. Offer Regular Feedback and Recognition
Career development is about more than just formal training and mentorship—it’s also about giving employees the feedback they need to improve and succeed. Regular, constructive feedback helps employees feel more confident and motivated in their career growth.
HR can help by:
- Implementing regular performance check-ins and feedback sessions that emphasize growth, areas for improvement, and actionable next steps.
- Ensuring feedback is a two-way street, with employees given the opportunity to voice their own needs and challenges.
- Recognizing employees publicly when they achieve career milestones, whether it’s completing a training course, leading a successful project, or contributing to company-wide goals.
6. Monitor Progress and Adjust Goals as Needed
As the year progresses, it’s important for HR and managers to check in and adjust career development goals based on shifting priorities, individual progress, and new opportunities. Employee needs, business goals, and external factors like industry trends can all impact the trajectory of career development goals.
HR can help by:
- Setting quarterly or biannual reviews to assess the progress of career development goals and identify any obstacles employees may be facing.
- Using data and analytics to track employee engagement in training, mentorship, and career advancement programs.
- Being open to modifying goals if needed, based on changing business needs, personal circumstances, or skill development.
If you’re someone in an HR role with a company, remember that you have the opportunity to empower employees not only to succeed in their current roles, but also grow and develop within the broader company. By focusing on realistic, actionable career development goals in 2025, you’ll not only help employees achieve their aspirations, but also foster a culture of learning, growth, and internal advancement. So, take time this February to assess the needs of your employees and create a clear, supportive framework for their continued professional growth throughout the year.
Amanda Kevin is the Founder of ExpeditionHR. Leveraging her 10+ years of experience building HR functions for several high growth startups, her passion is in creating a fulfilling and meaningful employee experience. Through alleviating compliance stressors, creating policy that upholds workplace culture, and creating a work environment that professionals will be drawn to, ExpeditionHR will guide small business owners towards fulfilling their wildest dreams.