Career development
Your Guide to Growth and Mobility
Career Development at UCT
We have adopted a career lattice approach at UCT, which emphasises building competency from within and enabling flexible, multidirectional career growth. This toolkit is designed to empower our staff to take ownership of their career journey through practical, actionable, and customisable resources.
The toolkit is structured around five stages, each offering resources with clear descriptions, formats and purposes:
Stage 1: Explore & Assess (Building the foundation)
Start by understanding yourself and reflecting on the experiences that have shaped your current position. This stage includes self-assessment tools, the UCT Competency Framework, and reflective exercises to help you identify strengths, interests, and areas for growth. It’s about building a clear foundation for informed career decisions.
Stage 2: Plan & Set Goals (Strategic direction)
Once you know where you stand, define where you want to go. Use the Individual Career Plan Template to set goals and explore options through the Career Pathfinder online tool and UCT progression maps. This stage helps you create a strategic roadmap aligned with your aspirations and institutional opportunities.
Stage 3: Develop & Learn (Skill and competency building)
Career growth is driven by continuous learning. Access curated resources from UCT and external platforms, including LinkedIn Learning, and engage in mentoring and coaching programmes. This stage focuses on building the skills and experiences needed to progress along your chosen path.
Stage 4: Movement & Transition (Career Mobility)
When you are ready to take the next step in your career - this stage provides tools for internal mobility, guidance on promotion processes, and resources for application and interview preparation. You’ll also find transition support to help you move confidently into new roles.
Stage 5: Sustain & Reflect (Longevity & renewal)
Career success is about perseverance and sustainability. Explore resources on work-life integration, burnout prevention, and mentoring opportunities. For those nearing retirement, pre-retirement planning ensures a smooth transition and an opportunity to pay it forward and help others grow.
LinkedIn Learning Career Hub
UCT staff have free access to LinkedIn Learning’s Career Hub. In addition to thousands of high-quality learning activities, the Career Hub offers interactive, AI-powered tools to help you actively manage and document your career journey:
Career pathing
Map out potential career moves within your current role or explore new directions. The tool provides visual pathways and skill recommendations aligned with your goals.Skills inventory based on your experience and learning
Automatically generate a skills profile linked to your current position and compare it to future roles you aspire to. This helps identify gaps and prioritise development.AI coaching
Receive personalised guidance from AI-driven career coaches. These virtual coaches offer actionable advice on goal setting, skill building, and navigating transitions.AI role play for interview preparation
Practice interviews in a safe, simulated environment. The AI role-play feature provides feedback on your responses, tone, and confidence, helping you prepare effectively.
To use the service, visit the ICTS page for log in instructions.