Rethinking Career Growth: How HR Leaders Can Navigate the Career Jungle Gym
A chief people officer’s advice for advancing your HR career
Thinking back even to college, a ladder has been a symbol of growth (anyone else’s school throw around the term “campus climber”?). And in the world of work, it’s still a symbol of professional growth—a career ladder is supposed to represent a straightforward climb to the top. But, in the modern workplace, this metaphor no longer captures the complexity of most career paths. As Mark Putrus, Chief People Officer at Nativo, emphasized in a recent CandorIQ webinar, careers now resemble a "career jungle gym" or "career lattice," offering multiple pathways to growth that align with individuals’ evolving ambitions and life circumstances.
This shift is particularly relevant for HR leaders, whose roles increasingly require a blend of strategic thinking and operational expertise. Inspired by Mark’s insights, I’d love to explore how embracing the jungle gym approach can help HR professionals build versatile careers and effectively tackle organizational challenges.
From Ladder to Jungle Gym: A New Way to Think About Careers
Mark highlighted how traditional linear career paths are no longer the default:
"The sort of traditional linear career is one of the past," he explained. "Depending on life and personal situations, ambitions change, and that’s fully acceptable."
He recounted the story of a former CHRO who intentionally stepped into a business partner role as they approached retirement. Despite being "overqualified" for the position, they thrived, demonstrating that success isn’t always about climbing higher—it’s about finding roles that align with individual goals and circumstances.
This perspective challenges the conventional wisdom that career growth must always involve upward progression. It also highlights the value of embracing career moves that prioritize purpose and personal fulfillment.
Why Diverse Experiences Matter
For HR professionals, navigating a career jungle gym often involves moving laterally into new roles that expand their expertise. Mark’s own career journey reflects this philosophy, having spanned learning and development, recruiting, and total rewards before becoming a Chief People Officer.
To paraphrase Haris Ikram, CEO of CandorIQ, when he acknowledged how these varied experiences enhance leadership effectiveness: Mark’s ability to dive deeply into any HR area—while maintaining a strategic lens—is what makes him so effective. It’s a skillset that’s increasingly important for HR leaders.
This adaptability equips HR leaders to tackle a wide range of challenges, from organizational design to workforce planning, and ensures they remain versatile in a constantly evolving workplace.
How HR Professionals Can Embrace the Jungle Gym
If you’re an HR professional looking to embrace this non-linear approach to career growth, here are some actionable strategies:
- Welcome Lateral Moves: Growth doesn’t always mean moving up. Expanding your expertise across functions like talent acquisition, total rewards, or learning and development can enhance your ability to lead effectively.
- Adapt to Evolving Priorities: Mark highlighted that personal and professional ambitions often change over time. Recognizing and accepting these shifts can help you make career decisions that feel both purposeful and sustainable.
- Seek Continuous Learning Opportunities: Staying informed about trends, tools, and best practices is essential for navigating the complexity of today’s HR landscape.
- Build Relationships Across Disciplines: Collaborating with other functions helps align HR strategies with broader business goals and offers insights that can inform your own career growth.
- Lead by Example: By modeling flexibility and adaptability in your own career, you can inspire others within your organization to explore nontraditional paths.
Redefining Success in a Jungle Gym World
Ultimately, the jungle gym model of career growth represents a more holistic approach to professional development. It’s about valuing diverse experiences, adapting to change, and finding fulfillment in roles that align with personal and organizational goals.
For HR leaders, adopting this mindset isn’t just a personal growth strategy—it’s a way to create lasting impact within their organizations by fostering flexibility, inclusivity, and resilience.