What are career management skills?

Career management skills, also known by the shorthand 'CMS', encompass a "range of competencies which provide structured ways for individuals and groups to gather, analyse, synthesise and organise self, educational and occupational information as well as the skills to make and implement decisions and transitions" (Skills Development Scotland, 2018). CMS competencies "enable [...us] to gather, analyse, synthesise and organise information about [our]selves and potential educational, training and occupational pathways in a structured" way (Kauppila & Kettunen, 2025, p. 2). If we are experienced - or if we seek out career practitioner help - our personal CMS will improve our career decision-making, personal development, career path plan and work goal achievement (Kauppila & Kettunen, 2025). The EU and ILO have CMS as a key lifelong learning competency (Kauppila & Kettunen, 2025) - we need to keep learning how the increasingly complex world of work operates in order to navigate it successfully (Skills Development Scotland, 2018).

There are four CMS themes:

1. "Self – competencies that enable individuals to develop their sense of self within society"
2. "Strengths – competencies that enable individuals to acquire and build on their strengths and to pursue rewarding learning and work opportunities"
3. "Horizons – competencies that enable individuals to visualise, plan and achieve their career aspirations throughout life", and 
4. "Networks – competencies that enable individuals to develop relationships and networks of support" (Skills Development Scotland, 2018, p. 1)

In considering these elements, many of my clients have a sense of self and understand most of their strengths. However, few of them actively plan, so I feel are likely to be largely unaware of their horizons. Most clients network, and networks are particularly useful for getting us into our next role. Being present on platforms like LinkedIn mean we may personally connect with someone who is seeking our skill set, or recruiters may find us. However, we need to showcase our skills in those spaces; and if our LinkedIn 'stock' needs to be current in order to attract the 'right' buyer. If we are blind to needing to leverage our networks, we are more likely to miss plum opportunities. 

While CMS is a punnet chart like Law & Watts (1977) DOTS model, CMS is about the client's learning 'how' the workplace works (Kauppila & Kettunen, 2025); DOTs is about the 'what' a client needs to do (read more here). 

Our clients are likely to find both tools helpful.

Sam

References:

Law, B. & Watts, A. G. (1977). Schools, Careers and Community: A study of some approaches to careers education in schools. Church Information Office.

Kauppila, P., & Kettunen, J. (2025). Career practitioners’ conceptions of career management skills at Finnish universities of applied sciences. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. Advance online publication, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-025-09727-5<

Skills Development Scotland. (2018). Career Management Skills (CMS). https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/yomfledc/career-management-skills-for-training-providers.pdf

Skills Development Scotland. (2017). Career Education Standard 3-18 Learning Resource 3: Introduction to Career Management Skills. https://education.gov.scot/media/z0uajdou/dyw23-learning-resource-3-career-management-skills.pdf