One of the best ways to encourage and facilitate employee engagement is by offering career development programs for employees. However, often this career development is a concept that’s easier said than done. First, it’s important that a career development program is focused on the employees and their needs. All too often, organizations use a one-size-fits-all approach when designing their career development program, which can make the initiative feel more like an obligation than a benefit. According to West Unified Communication Services’s State of Employee Training 2015 report, a third of the 200 full-time employees surveyed said their programs weren’t productive, and another third said the material wasn’t interesting or engaging. Another important aspect of a successful development program is to start early. New hires should immediately be greeted with opportunity for growth. Smart organizations will emphasize how their organization will prioritize the professional growth of their employees, and define what their success will look like at the organization.