“Tell me about the new job.” Ray leaned across the table so he could hear better.

He and Lauren have been friends since college. In fact, Lauren married Ray’s college roommate. Now they work at the same company, see each other socially and act as each other’s career cheering section. So it was exciting for Ray when Lauren offered to buy lunch and tell him about her new assignment.

“I’m going to head up the new e-commerce task force!” Lauren was practically ready to explode. “They’re letting us rip apart the web site, tell them what to do about mobile, and develop strategies for using social networking.” She paused for breath.

“The best part is that I get to send stuff to Smith.” Ray was impressed. “Smith,” as everybody called him, was a legendary Executive VP. He was known as someone who loved to mentor younger people.

Ray let her talk while he thought about their lives and careers. They’d been out of school for a little over four years. After a couple of what he thought of as “false starts” they were both working in a place where they could really grow and develop.

Ray and Lauren are both in a Development Stage of their career. For both of them, the focus is on personal and professional growth and development. Ray listened as Lauren wound down.

“I was once a master of the dismal science, now I am ‘Marketing Girl’ and soon I shall become ‘E-Commerce Queen,’” exulted Lauren.

 Ray smiled. He’d met Lauren when they were both economics majors. “Maybe Vice President is next,” he suggested. They both laughed.

If you’re in a Development Stage, like Ray and Lauren, the Entry Stage and learning the ropes is behind you. Now is the time to concentrate on your career and personal growth.

You’ll learn through courses and reading. Ray is mastering the details of cross-border trading because he thinks it’s a growth area and it plays to his strengths. He loves finance and wants to make a career of it.

You’ll learn and grow even more through developmental assignments like the one Lauren was describing. Those assignments can be permanent or temporary but they help you develop both skills and visibility in the company or in the industry. For Lauren, who wants to move up the corporate ladder, both of those are important.

Ray and Lauren’s friend, Tom, is in a Development Stage, too. He’s an entrepreneur and owns a software company. All his energy is poured into growing his company and he’s spending time learning about how to effectively bid on government contracts.

In the Development Stage you must:

Establish your career plan
Develop professional expertise
Establish personal and professional contacts
Become visible and recognized by others
Demonstrate your worth and competence

In the Development Stage and every stage in your life and career you need to meet the challenges of that stage and your own Career Path. You need to seek out the resources, including mentors, who can help you make the most of where you are. At Momentor, we’re designing things so you can always find resources for the Career Stage you’re in.