Every career is unique

Dirk Buyens

By Dirk Buyens

Professor of Human Resources Management

16 May 2023

When you think of making a career, you often think of moving up to a management position. But it doesn’t always work like that. “There is no single career ladder – there are numberless ladders,” says Dirk Buyens, Vlerick Professor of HRM.

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Organisations have become flatter in recent years, with fewer and fewer layers. “There are, for example, 4 or 5 today, whereas there were still 20 a few years ago. The more layers, the longer it takes to make decisions. But today's organisations need to be agile,” explains Dirk Buyens, who sees the need for agility in smaller companies as well. The result is that only a limited proportion of employees – roughly 15% to 20% – are currently in a management position.

However, in addition to the hierarchical career ladder, there are also other ladders. “There is the project ladder, ranging from projects that someone leads in addition to his or her core job, to the larger strategic projects.” Another is the professional ladder, which consists of professionals who work on those projects. “Think of the ‘principal fellows’ in the pharmaceutical industry, where, for example, you find future Nobel Prize winners.” It’s also true that the hierarchical ladder is not necessarily the highest. For example, a surgeon often earns more than the hospital’s CEO.

Always have a Plan B

Whatever ladder you are on, Prof Buyens advises not to let yourself become stuck. “Every expertise has an expiry date,” he says. “Keep yourself employable, and make sure you always have a Plan B.” He also offers a second tip. “Consider which ladder brings you best into your own. Many people stare blindly at a management ladder for years, while they thrive much better as a professional. And even better: don't focus too much on the ladders in your particular organisation – go for a ‘career portfolio’, built up from unique career experiences and acquired skills that keep you versatile and broadly employable.”

More info at: Vlerick HR Day

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