Career Lattice
For some people, climbing a career ladder may not be
the path to their ultimate career. Many individuals
prefer lateral moves along with vertical moves. These
moves can be seen in a career lattice. A career lattice is
a series of lateral and vertical moves in one career field.
The biggest distinction between a career ladder and a
career lattice is that while a ladder refers only to the
upward mobility of an employment field, a lattice also
accounts for lateral transitions.
Imagine you are employed as a mechanic for an
independently owned automotive repair shop. If you
accepted a job with the same title working in the repair
shop of a nationwide automotive dealer, you would not
be moving up to a higher level of employment, but lat-
erally to the same job in the same industry, but with a
different company. There are many reasons to consider
a move like this. For example, companies with larger
employment totals may have more opportunities for
advancement or higher wages. Additionally, the new
job may not require any additional skills, but may yield
new knowledge and experience that can be valuable in
the future. By using a career lattice strategy, employees
can achieve continued growth and career develop-
ment throughout a lifetime. A visual representation of
a career lattice is shown in Figure 1-10.
Career Portfolio
A portfolio is a compilation of materials that provide
evidence of a person’s qualifications, skills, and talents.
As you begin planning your career, it is a good idea to
start creating a portfolio. When you apply for a job, you
will need to demonstrate to others how you are quali-
fied for the position.
Showcasing examples of work you have completed or
awards you have received is one way to communicate
your qualifications. As a part of the portfolio-creation
process, collect and save all documentation that dem-
onstrates your accomplishments. Include copies of cer-
tificates, recommendation letters, and diplomas. If you
have published articles or written other material that
are exemplary of your writing, include those also. In
addition, gather evidence of academic or work projects
you have completed. These items are testimonials that
strengthen your position as a potential employee.
Career Lattice
Lateral Move
change to job in
department or company
Current Position
Vertical Move
increase responsibility
Downward Move
refocus career options
Lateral Move
change to job in
department or company
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
FIGURE 1-10
A career lattice is a series of lateral and vertical moves in one career field.
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
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Chapter 1 Preparing for Your Career