What is Career Development?
Career development is the process of setting a plan in place for success in a particular career field. In the case of a salesman, it can be setting your sights on improving sales, account retention and customer satisfaction to such a level as to become the sales manager. From there, the next step may be to become regional director of sales.
Each career path is unique, and career development doesn't necessarily mean changing positions. Career development can also mean increasing your ability to become the resident expert in a particular subject within your company. If you're a direct marketing copywriter, for example, career development may include shepherding new and younger copywriters in the field, training others on the importance of copy placement in designing, and so on.
In most cases, career development is the process of determining where you want to end up. It's nothing more than a strategic plan for your career. Like a strategic plan, it is often developed consciously and purposefully. It also includes steps or guidelines for such growth. This can be anything from getting an MBA, joining a fellowship to obtaining a certification, etc.