UN personnel take charge in formulating their career aspirations, set realistic career goals, and put together achievable career plans. They collaborate with management on career plans, seeking feedback or guidance in order to evaluate implementation and execute improvements. The role of managers is to connect staff’s individual aspirations with career opportunities—within the UN family of Organizations—helping staff achieve alignment across career plans and what the Organization needs. Managers act as allies and guide staff along their career journeys.

The Organization’s role is to identify and communicate the skill expectations from staff, both those of today and of the future. It also provides meaningful opportunities for staff to acquire the skills needed and ensures that appropriate linkages with other talent management areas— learning and development, performance management, strategic workforce planning, recruitment — are present, work synchronously and mutually support one another to help staff sustain professional (job and career) satisfaction.