Simplifying Career Growth in the Semiconductor Industry Through Competency Tools

This case study details the development of a career development and competency mapping tool for a global semiconductor leader. The organization had a diverse workforce of highly skilled engineers but faced challenges with employee engagement in career development. This was partly due to a complex and less frequently utilized competency model, which made growth pathways less clear. To empower the company’s talent and foster internal growth, the “Career Path Finder” tool was introduced, designed to build technical, managerial, and behavioral competencies. It offered role-based, personalized learning journeys and focused on enabling internal talent mobility and providing clear visibility into career pathways.

Project Overview

A global semiconductor leader had a diverse workforce of highly skilled engineers. Although the organization had notable strengths, it faced challenges with employee engagement in career development. This was partly due to a complex and less frequently utilized competency model, which made growth pathways less clear.

To empower the company’s talent and foster internal growth, a career development and competency mapping tool was introduced. The tool, Career Path Finder, was designed to build technical, managerial, and behavioral competencies. This tool offered role-based, personalized learning journeys and focused on enabling internal talent mobility and providing clear visibility into career pathways.

Objectives

• To bring clarity and actionability to the existing competency model.
• To enable engineers to better understand and visualize pathways for advancement.
• To create personalized learning journeys that incorporate both technical and behavioral competencies.
• To promote internal talent mobility and spark proactive development conversations.

Challenges

• The organization had a well-defined competency model, but it struggled to keep pace with rapidly evolving technical skills, making it feel outdated and contributing to low engagement among engineers in career development initiatives.
• Many engineers were unsure of how to advance beyond their current positions, limiting their career growth and development opportunities.
• The competency framework was too complex to be implemented effectively across teams, making it difficult to use on a broad scale.
• Behavioral skills, despite being critical for leadership roles, were often overlooked in the development process.

The solutions

• The organization implemented the Career Path Finder, a tool designed to bring clarity and actionability to the competency model.
• The Explorer provided target role mapping and highlighted the required competencies for career advancement. Customized learning journeys were created for both technical and behavioral skills, ensuring a holistic development approach.
• Engineers received personalized recommendations for learning resources, mentors, and relevant on-the-job experiences. The tool helped to turn abstract competencies into concrete actions leading to career advancement.

Outcome

• Engineers gained clearer insight into the skills needed for future roles, enabling them to take ownership of their career growth.
• A high percentage of users rated the Career Path Finder as “very useful” for career planning, indicating strong user acceptance.
• The tool accelerated proactive development conversations between managers and their teams, creating a culture of continuous growth.