The study presents the essence of a professional career, treated as the foundation of the employee development strategy in the organization. Therefore, a professional career was presented as a process enabling the acquisition of competences facilitating the achievement of individual professional successes. Formally defined and documented career path of an employee is the basis for planning his career in an objectified dimension. The career path in the organization can be built in a variety of ways, depending on the conditions and capabilities of the company, hence the employee’s allocation, ie their displacement up the organizational structure, referred to as promotion, is characterized. The role of professional development of employees is emphasized, to which training and skills development are necessary, treated as an investment of an enterprise. The study also addressed an important topic of challenges and future trends in the career management process. A change in the level of career perception from the focus on career at work on quality of life and work-private life balance was indicated.