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The IT industry is like a high-speed train – it’s constantly moving, gaining momentum, and sometimes even drastically changing direction. If you don’t have a clear plan, you risk getting lost in the endless list of programming languages, frameworks, and certifications.
Building a successful IT career is not just about technical skills. This field requires careful planning, flexibility, and a clear understanding of your goals.

There are two approaches to achieving your dream goal and charting your career path: a Career Roadmap and an Individual Development Plan (IDP). They may seem similar, but they actually serve different purposes. Let’s figure out what the difference is and which option is best for you.

What is an Individual Development Plan (IDP)?

An IDP is a personal development program tailored to your skills, strengths, and future career goals. Unlike a career path that sets a direction and general industry trends, an IDP is more flexible and focused on short- and medium-term prospects.

An IDP typically includes:

• Initial self-assessment – ​​identifying current skills and areas for growth and improvement.
• Goal setting – formulating specific, measurable, and achievable goals, such as learning a new framework or improving your soft skills.
• Developing the necessary skills – including taking relevant courses, certifications, and working on projects.
• Mentoring and feedback – finding mentors with experience in your chosen field and getting advice from industry experts.

For instance, you started your career as a manual tester, but in the future you plan to move into automation. Your IDP includes studying Playwright, JavaScript and Python courses, and scripting practice. By following the IDP, you will become a test automation engineer in a year.

What is a Career Roadmap?

A Career Roadmap is a long-term plan that shows the general trajectory of development in a particular IT specialty. It helps to understand what roles can be held at different stages of a career and what skills are needed for this.

A Career Roadmap usually contains:

• Key career stages – positions in the chosen specialty and their basic responsibilities.
• Required skills and certifications – what you need to know and be able to achieve each level of qualification.
• Current trends – information about new technologies and current market demands.
• Alternative directions – opportunities to change specialization into related niches or directions according to the acquired knowledge and skills.

For instance, a tester’s career path might look like this:

Trainee QA

• Test Planning: basic knowledge of evaluation and prioritization, types of test documentation.
• Test Design: understanding the structure of test cases, the basics of test design (EP, BV, DT, ST).
• Test Reporting: basic skills in reporting on performed tests and found bugs.
• Tech Skills: minimal knowledge of Web, API, SQL, client-server architecture (preferred).
• SDLC: general understanding of testing processes within the SDLC.
• Issue Investigation: ability to analyze defects, interact with developers.

Junior QA

• Test Planning: experience in testing, evaluation of simple tasks, understanding of priorities.
• Test Design: application of basic test design techniques, testing positive/negative scenarios.
• Test Reporting: working with basic metrics (number of defects, test coverage, etc.).
• Tech Skills: understanding basic technologies, using SQL CRUD, working with DevTools.
• SDLC: knowledge of Agile and traditional models, understanding of SDLC stages.
• Issue Investigation: creating structured bug reports, using logs, databases.

Middle QA

• Test Planning: working with Test Strategy and Test Plan, evaluating complex tasks, risk analysis.
• Test Design: extended test coverage, testing of different levels and types, IEEE 29119 p4.
• Test Reporting: analysis and visualization of test metrics (pass/fail rate, defect leakage).
• Tech Skills: deeper knowledge of technologies (API, SQL JOINs, DevTools, version control).
• SDLC: understanding of different SDLCs, test environment management.
• Issue Investigation: localization of bugs, analysis of logs, root causes.

Senior QA

• Test Planning: creation of test documentation (Test Plan, Test Strategy), risk management.
• Test Design: reviewing and optimizing test cases, using risk-based testing.
• Test Reporting: generation of detailed reports, working with metrics of 1-3 levels.
• Tech Skills: knowledge of software architecture, programming basics, SQL (functions, nested queries).
• SDLC: deep knowledge of different models, CI/CD setup, test infrastructure management.
• Issue Investigation: analysis of defect causes, interaction with developers, systematization of defects.

Expert QA

• Test Planning: strategic planning, ROI assessment, implementation of process improvement models (TMMi, TPI).
• Test Design: optimization of testing approaches, experience in risk-based testing on several projects.
• Test Reporting: strategic analysis of metrics, correlation of defects and changes in the product.
• Tech Skills: deep knowledge of the technology stack, setting up test environments, automation.
• SDLC: formation and improvement of SDLC processes, implementation of best practices.
• Issue Investigation: deep analysis of root causes, defect management in large-scale systems.

What to choose for a successful career in IT?

Now the most important thing is what to choose? It all depends on your current level and your goal.

• If you are just starting out – the Career Roadmap will help you understand the general prospects for development, and the IDP – to consistently build the first steps towards achieving your goal.
• If you are changing your field – the IDP will become your main tool, as it will help you build a detailed plan for quickly mastering the necessary skills in a new field.
• If you aspire to leadership positions – the Career Roadmap will show you the general trajectory, and the IDP will help you step by step develop leadership qualities and improve your skills.

What is the best option? Use both approaches.
Imagine that the Career Roadmap is your city map, showing the main roads and directions, and the IDP is a detailed route that helps you avoid traffic jams and choose the shortest route.

There is no single right path in the IT field, but detailed planning and quick adaptation plays a crucial role. The Career Roadmap gives the bigger picture, while the Individual Development Plan allows you to focus on current tasks.
Using both approaches, you will be able to confidently build a career, regardless of the dynamics of changes in the market.