Аннотация
In today’s environment, managing employees’ career development is becoming a key factor for the success and sustainable development of organizations, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this article is to investigate current approaches to career management in SMEs and provide practical recommendations based on theoretical research and empirical evidence. The novelty of the study lies in the integrated approach to analyzing career management practices using both quantitative and qualitative methods. This allows for a deeper understanding of the impact of career development on employee motivation and retention in a resource-constrained and highly competitive environment. The research methodology includes reviewing existing literature and analyzing case studies from different industries to identify best practices and success stories. The use of mixed research methods, such as surveys and in-depth interviews, provides a more comprehensive view of current practices and their impact on employees. The results of the study show that career development management is critical to improve employee motivation and retention, which is particularly relevant for SMEs. Pay attention to aspects such as training and development, performance appraisal systems, reward systems and their impact on employee motivation. Training and development help to improve employees’ skills and adaptability to changes in the market, while appraisal systems such as 360-degree feedback and regular evaluations help to identify achievements and areas for improvement, forming individual development plans. A fair and competitive compensation system motivates employees and promotes employee retention. The author’s personal contribution is the design and implementation of an integrated research methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative methods, which provided comprehensive data and offered practical recommendations for SMEs. The article also discusses the factors that influence employee retention and the creation of a positive corporate culture, which contributes to their long-term professional growth and enhances companies’ competitiveness in the market. In an environment of rapid change and globalization, SMEs must pay special attention to human capital development to maintain competitiveness and achieve sustainable growth. The article provides recommendations for the implementation of effective career management programs and examples of successful practices from different sectors.