Christian Sepulveda

People need professional development, whether conscious of this or not. It is my opinion that one of the most common reasons people change jobs is the lack of professional development.

Boredom and the lack of a challenge are common reasons people cite when leaving a job. This is a cry for professional development; their new job provides a new context with new challenges,which stimulate the individual, encouraging new perspectives and the assimilation of new information.

It is preferable for everyone that the employee does not have to take such drastic measures as changing jobs to satisfy the need for professional development. Unfortunately many companies, particularly startups, do not have any program for professional development, even if only an informal one. There is too much to do and never enough time; how can you expect a fledgling company to spend scarce resources on developing employees? Most would rather hire individuals with the skill set required for the job and not be responsible for their development.

Herein lies a common mistake; many employers confuse developing employees with hiring for established skills. They are independent as current skills addresses short term needs whereas professional development addresses long term concerns of retention, satisfaction and future skill requirements.

Considering the cost and time required for recruitment and training, it is foolish for an organization to dismiss professional development, regardless of the "good reasons". Like character in individuals, it is telling if an organization will respond to its challenges rather than succumb to excuses. An organization's commitment or negligence regarding professional development reveals much about its values. For many employees, this will be a greater cause to change jobs.