6 Reasons Employers Are Unprepared To Support Your Career Goals
Young Asian businesswoman leading
getty
The rules of career management are being rewritten. You can no longer rely on your employer to place a premium on your professional development and career advancement, not only due to budget cuts but also because of the lack of knowledge employers have about their employees' specific needs. As such, this responsibility now lies directly in the hands of employees themselves. While organizations may offer training, resources, and guidance, the days of one-size-fits-all career development programs are long gone. And that's a good thing.
This shift is both a challenge and an opportunity. Understanding why it has occurred and how to leverage the following six alarming realities employers are unprepared to support your career goals will determine whether you thrive or put your future at risk.
Even the most well-intentioned employers struggle to design a personal development path perfectly aligned with your ambitions. Why? Because no one knows your inner world as well as you do.
Organizations often operate at a macro level, focusing on company-wide industry trends and group goals. While these frameworks serve the greater organization's growth objectives, they cannot address the nuances of your unique strengths, aspirations, and challenges.
Employers can't read your mind, nor is it their responsibility, it's yours. Yet, most employees are not willing to boldly share their career goals for fear of derailing the political capital or momentum they have created. To determine your growth path, you as an individual must develop a deep understanding of what you need professionally and personally to thrive. Ask yourself: 'Have I invested enough time understanding my own strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities to chart my path forward?'
Before you point fingers at your employer, take a moment to reflect on yourself. Do you know who you are and what you truly want? Many employees chase external validations, such as promotions or salaries, without understanding if these align with their personal values or beliefs.
Personal growth begins with introspection. In fact, when I've asked mid-career professionals the question, 'What are you chasing?', some of the most common responses include: happiness, survival, belonging, security, harmony, peace, respect, validation, self-trust, calmness, regaining faith in my abilities, and self-worth. Yet, while they know what they are chasing, they don't know who they are or what they stand for. As a result, they struggle to act confidently toward what they really want because much of what they have achieved has been the result of following a predefined path for years.
I've learned that it takes time and immense focus for someone to uncover their unique passions and strengths. This requires an intensive process of unraveling internal and external factors, something an employer is not responsible for, especially when their priority is on financial goals and objectives. Now that employees are consumers with options, one of their most important choices begins with investing in themselves to understand the skills and capabilities they bring to the table.
Employers are under immense pressure to drive growth, shareholder value, innovate, navigate volatility, and survive in highly competitive landscapes. Most career development initiatives are designed to address organizational priorities, not individual aspirations.
For example, your employer might provide training programs to adapt to new technologies or meet immediate skill gaps. While these programs are valuable, they may not align with the long-term, personalized vision you might have for your career. In fact, as employers invest more in AI as a professional development tool to offset the cost of third-party vendors, employees must be aware of the risks of AI-driven standardization. This could dilute one's unique skills, capacities, and talents if the sole purpose of the tool is to emphasize skills that primarily benefit the organization—not the employee.
The management of an employee's career goals is more complex than any organizational blueprint, especially when you consider a company with thousands of employees. It's reflective, adaptive, and deeply personal. To succeed, you must go beyond company resources and create your own plan for growth.
When items 1-3 are at play, it's hard to enforce personal accountability for one's career goals. Yet, this is the world we now live in—if your objective is to get ahead of change before circumstances force it upon you. Gone are the days of waiting for your performance evaluation to discuss your career goals. By the time that happens, hundreds of growth opportunities may have already passed you by.
Those with thriving careers are the ones who take matters into their own hands. They hold themselves accountable by continuously evaluating:
Accountability makes you the owner of your career, especially when the workplace and its demands are evolving faster than ever.
An important aspect that oftentimes goes overlooked is one's diligence to budget for personal growth and career goals. Investing in your career is no longer an option, it's a non-negotiable priority. We can no longer assume the degree you earned 10 years ago has a distinct competitive advantage anymore.
I've learned time and again that the talent spectrum is getting flatter. It's no longer just about years of experience; it's about whether one has the skills, the will, and new ideas to solve today's challenges and realize growth opportunities for the present and future.
Consider creating a dedicated line in your personal budget for career growth. When you make a financial commitment to yourself, it reinforces the idea that your growth is a top priority. It also solidifies that you are finally investing in yourself for the greater good.
Owning your career goals doesn't mean navigating them all on your own. To continuously grow and evolve, you need the right people around you. It means using resources wisely and thinking strategically about the growth opportunities you pursue.
Surround yourself with mentors, peers, friends, and family members who inspire and challenge you. The people you choose to associate with can either propel you forward or hold you back. Your circle of support should align with your goals and aspirations and share your hunger for growth. Stay close to the leaders and lifters and move away from the loafers and leeches.
Growth requires you to assemble the right ecosystem of resources. Don't limit yourself to 2-3 resources you need at least 10-12 to continuously fuel your momentum and keep moving forward.
Owning your career goals is neither simple nor fast, but it can be an incredibly rewarding journey if you put your mind to it.
Never ask yourself again, 'What is my employer doing to support my career goals?' Instead, ask yourself, 'What am I doing to sustain the career path I desire?'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Henderson Land upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley upgraded Henderson Land (HLDCY) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of HK$31, up from HK$26.50, as the firm refreshed its ratings and preferences among its Hong Kong property coverage. Hong Kong property prices are down 30% since their peak five years ago and the firm sees several drivers pointing towards a bottoming, says the analyst, who argues investors 'could benefit from a long steady cycle ahead.' Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Bank of China (Hong Kong) x Television Broadcasts Limited ("TVB") "Wealth Management Expo 2025" was successfully held
Driving Economic Momentum, Leading Trends with Mega Events HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 June 2025 - The 'Wealth Management Expo 2025", powered by Bank of China (Hong Kong) ('BOCHK') and organised by TVB under the theme of 'Driving Economic Momentum, Leading Trends with Mega Events' has been successfully held today. The Expo has brought together leading figures from the government, business and financial sectors to provide in-depth analysis and share valuable insights into market trends through examining the international landscape, RMB internationalisation, the mega-event economy, as well as personal and business financial management. Officiating guests - Mr. Paul Chan, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government (Fourth Right), Miss Rosanna Law, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (Third Left) and Mr. Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK (Forth Left); together with other attending guests including Mr. Thomas Hui, JP, Executive Chairman of TVB (Third Right) and representatives from BOCHK. The Expo was officiated by Mr. Paul Chan, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government; Miss Rosanna Law, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Mr. Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK. Miss Rosanna Law also shared at the summit forum on how mega events catalyse Hong Kong's economy. Other attending guests included Mr. Thomas Hui, JP, Executive Chairman of TVB and representatives from BOCHK. Mr. Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, said in his opening speech, 'As a leading commercial bank rooted in Hong Kong for over a century, BOCHK fully leverages its regional advantages and integrated offerings to continuously enhance operational capabilities while delivering high-quality services. Apart from actively promoting green finance and inclusive financial development, BOCHK drives continuous innovation in fintech, accelerating its digital transformation. The Bank is committed to supporting Hong Kong in reinforcing its position as a global offshore RMB business hub, while deepening cross-boundary financial business within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.' Opening Forum: Experts Shared Insights on Outlook for RMB Internationalisation The opening forum of the Expo, 'Dissecting Economic Pulse and Exploring Opportunities in RMB Internationalisation,' featured Dr. Jianguang Shen, Vice President of Dr. Rocky Tung, Director and Head of Policy Research for the Financial Services Development Council; Mr. Dong Tao, President of Spring Capital (Hong Kong) Limited and a renowned economist; and Mr. Jack Yang, RMB Business Executive Director of BOCHK, who engaged in an in-depth discussion on the various opportunities in the internationalisation of the RMB, including how enterprises can leverage the advantages of RMB settlement to reduce cross-border transaction costs, as well as the attractiveness of RMB-denominated assets and emerging investment opportunities in the international capital markets. Summit Forum: Unleashed the Powerful Driving Force of the Mega-Event Economy The Hong Kong SAR Government has been actively promoting the 'Mega-event economy' in recent years, aiming to generate more business opportunities and attract more tourists through sports competitions, art exhibitions, large-scale international events and conferences. The speakers of the summit forum themed 'Mega Events as Economic Catalysts: Synergy of Sports, Arts, Culture and Tourism' are Miss Rosanna Law, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Wilfred Ng, GBS, MH, JP, Chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee; and Prof. Douglas So, BBS, JP, Chairman of the Board of M Plus Collections Limited, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Built Heritage Conservation. They conducted an in-depth analysis of the diverse opportunities created by mega events. The three speakers explored how mega events drive economic growth from multiple perspectives, and shared insights on recent preparations for organising sports mega events and their economic contributions, while emphasising the importance of participation and support from all sectors. Five Thematic Workshops and Immersive Digital Experience Zone: Enriching Information and Experience The Expo also held five thematic workshops, where several experts dissected the latest trends in the global economy and markets. Regarding global economic development, two fund workshops 'Global Outlook of Asset Appreciation Potential in International Markets' and 'From Asia to the World: Multi-Asset Allocation Strategies for Enhanced Returns' along with the cross-border workshop 'Strategic Overview on Equity Markets and Economic Insights' emphasised the importance of focusing on Asia and global markets, empowering investors to grasp opportunities across different regions and industries to formulate prudent wealth growth strategies. The legacy planning workshop 'Securing Wealth Legacy, Prosperity Across Three Generations' concentrated on planning wealth for the next generation, grounded in love and sheltered by insurance. In addition, the stock market workshop 'Decoding the Stock Market: Sector Analysis and Trading Tactics' explored market trends, the AI boom and analysed the prospects of technology stocks. To enrich participants' experience, the venue also featured an immersive digital experience zone. Utilising an LED spherical display and a surrounded screen, the zone showcased three main themes in a one-stop format: anti-fraud, AI data applications and ESG. Participants can learn about BOCHK's digital empowerment. The 'Wealth Management Expo 2025" concluded successfully with fruitful outcomes. Through a full day of engaging forums, workshops, digital experience zone and sponsored booths, BOCHK hopes that industry professionals, investors and the public gained insights into changes in the international environment and market opportunities, with a focus on the RMB internationalisation and the diverse opportunities brought by the Mega-event economy, while mastering the path to wealth growth and legacy. Moses Chan Attended the Brand Launch Event and Shared Business Insights with Natalie Tong BOCHK announced the extended collaboration with Private Wealth brand ambassador Moses Chan, appointing him as the premium family wealth management brand FamilyMAX & BOCHK Cross-Border GO star brand ambassador and BOC Life's Star Product & Services Ambassador. Having founded a coffee brand years ago, Moses Chan's 'entrepreneur' identity has become as well-known as his acting career. Today, Moses Chan and Natalie Tong, popular Japanese bakery brand co-founder, Best Actress and Business Banking brand ambassador, appeared at the 'Dialogue with the Best Actor and Actress' to share how to balance multiple roles as actors and owners of catering business. They also discussed how to utilise financial knowledge and leverage professional teams and fintech services to enhance personal and business wealth management efficiency. Hashtag: #WealthManagementExpo2025 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Does The Market Have A Low Tolerance For GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd.'s (NYSE:GHG) Mixed Fundamentals?
It is hard to get excited after looking at GreenTree Hospitality Group's (NYSE:GHG) recent performance, when its stock has declined 18% over the past three months. We, however decided to study the company's financials to determine if they have got anything to do with the price decline. Stock prices are usually driven by a company's financial performance over the long term, and therefore we decided to pay more attention to the company's financial performance. Specifically, we decided to study GreenTree Hospitality Group's ROE in this article. Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. Return on equity can be calculated by using the formula: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for GreenTree Hospitality Group is: 7.2% = CN¥107m ÷ CN¥1.5b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024). The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. So, this means that for every $1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of $0.07. See our latest analysis for GreenTree Hospitality Group We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or "retains" for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don't share these attributes. On the face of it, GreenTree Hospitality Group's ROE is not much to talk about. Next, when compared to the average industry ROE of 19%, the company's ROE leaves us feeling even less enthusiastic. For this reason, GreenTree Hospitality Group's five year net income decline of 16% is not surprising given its lower ROE. We reckon that there could also be other factors at play here. Such as - low earnings retention or poor allocation of capital. That being said, we compared GreenTree Hospitality Group's performance with the industry and were concerned when we found that while the company has shrunk its earnings, the industry has grown its earnings at a rate of 33% in the same 5-year period. Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. Is GreenTree Hospitality Group fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide. In spite of a normal three-year median payout ratio of 27% (that is, a retention ratio of 73%), the fact that GreenTree Hospitality Group's earnings have shrunk is quite puzzling. So there could be some other explanations in that regard. For instance, the company's business may be deteriorating. Moreover, GreenTree Hospitality Group has been paying dividends for six years, which is a considerable amount of time, suggesting that management must have perceived that the shareholders prefer consistent dividends even though earnings have been shrinking. Overall, we have mixed feelings about GreenTree Hospitality Group. Even though it appears to be retaining most of its profits, given the low ROE, investors may not be benefitting from all that reinvestment after all. The low earnings growth suggests our theory correct. Wrapping up, we would proceed with caution with this company and one way of doing that would be to look at the risk profile of the business. Our risks dashboard would have the 4 risks we have identified for GreenTree Hospitality Group. — Investing narratives with Fair Values Vita Life Sciences Set for a 12.72% Revenue Growth While Tackling Operational Challenges By Robbo – Community Contributor Fair Value Estimated: A$2.42 · 0.1% Overvalued Vossloh rides a €500 billion wave to boost growth and earnings in the next decade By Chris1 – Community Contributor Fair Value Estimated: €78.41 · 0.1% Overvalued Intuitive Surgical Will Transform Healthcare with 12% Revenue Growth By Unike – Community Contributor Fair Value Estimated: $325.55 · 0.6% Undervalued View more featured narratives — Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
