In my many years as a leader in talent management and HR functions, I’ve seen firsthand how career development can make or break an organization. For that reason, Avanos continues to explore new ways to support the career aspirations of its employees.

One of the many benefits of working for Avanos comes in the form of career development opportunities. As a mid-sized medical device company that started as a spinoff from a large corporation, our employees have the freedom to experiment in different areas of interest. That means career development is no longer about slogging up the company ladder in the same area year after year, but rather, leaping from lily pad to lily pad, picking up new skills by exploring different parts of the company pond. We take a project- and skills-based approach that allows people to chase their passions and explore their curiosity, without sacrificing valuable time or career growth.

And right now, we’re especially well positioned for these opportunities. As part of our three-year business transformation, the career possibilities are even greater. We’re excited and encouraged to see team members step out of their comfort zones to explore new roles and responsibilities – in essence, transforming themselves with our help – by asking “what if?” and being open to testing out the unknown.

Last year, in support of the “people” side of our transformation, we began working on a companywide project focused on developing a robust career framework and compensation structure to provide employees a clearer view in crafting their career journeys. We’re confident that this multi-year initiative will be a game changer – from job satisfaction and employee retention to giving Avanos a competitive advantage in the market.

But it doesn’t take a major company initiative to drive an employee’s career development plans. The HR professional’s job is to plant the seeds that help employees cultivate successful careers, and then support them along that journey. That starts with a company culture that embraces collaboration and candor. It also includes access to resources – like mentoring programs, training tools and learning platforms – that promote personal and professional growth through diversified skill development…all of which is the case at Avanos.

Avanos has woven innovation into the fabric of our company. We’re taking a novel approach to careers, and, as part of our customer-centric focus, we realize that some of our most important customers are our employees. We want our work to matter – to our patients, to our employees, to all our stakeholders. We want to make a difference. If this sounds like the kind of work you want to do and the kind of organization you want to work for, check out https://careers.avanos.com/ to see how you can be a part of the Avanos Difference.