7 Companies That Take Your Professional Development Seriously

When you’re researching companies to work for, one of the biggest things you’re probably keeping an eye on is whether or not an organization makes your professional development a top priority. After all, while a salary and nice co-workers are great, you also want to make sure any role you choose is helping further your own career and professional goals.

What are some of the top companies out there that’ll make sure your professional development is a top priority? Here are seven incredible ones to add to your list.

1. Starbucks

It’d be an understatement to say that Starbucks takes its employees’ development seriously; the idea of bettering people’s lives is part of the company’s mission and culture.

What does Starbucks have to offer? First and foremost, the company has an one-of-a-kind partnership with Arizona State University called the Starbucks College Achievement Program that gives employees full tuition reimbursement to pursue a bachelor’s degree from ASU delivered online. 

But on top of that, Starbucks makes sure its employees can grow professionally in a number of different ways: It offers an amazing training program to get new hires started off on the right foot and also invests in ongoing learning opportunities. These include their brand new Greener Apron program that focuses on sustainability issues, the Coffee Master program, personalized development plans, and professional networks, which include the Black Partner Network, Women’s Development Network, Pride Alliance and Hora Del Cafe. Starbucks also gives employees health benefits, stock, and 401(k)s to make sure they know their value.

2. TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor helps its employees grow and learn professionally. The organization offers up to $5,000 of educational assistance for select programs, free online learning and development classes, and free snacks and lunch in the office so team members are on top of their game in the office.

3. Salesforce

To help its employees do amazing things, Salesforce, a successful sales technology company, offers a $5,000 education reimbursement, encourages employees to take professional development classes, provides mentoring and job shadowing, and even has one-on-one career coaching sessions.

4. Ogilvy & Mather

Ogilvy & Mather, a renowned ad agency, has a number of great professional development tools for its team members. First on the docket are open-enrollment classes for employees to sharpen their skills. Recent offerings included account management, negotiation skills, time management, presentation and storytelling, interview skills, and more.

Second, Ogilvy & Mather knows the importance of being on the cutting edge of tech in the 21st century, so it teaches a digital education program so employees can learn what’s out there.

Additionally, the company puts extra emphasis on making sure that its leadership, from first-time managers to senior executives, get special training and development so they do their jobs well (and help others in the process).

5. Unilever

One of the most interesting parts of Unilever’s personal development is its Performance and Development Planning, where the company works with team members to identify challenging goals for each employee that’ll make the most impact for the organization. These sessions also help employees figure out what development options would work best for them (for example, a networking group or workshop).

It’s an amazing, personalized way to ensure all Unilever employees feel like they’re making a difference while also allowing them to think about big-picture goals and future career plans.

6. American Express

American Express believes in the importance of one-on-one coaching, which is why team members meet with higher-ups regularly to talk about career goals, receive instruction, and gain valuable feedback.

There are also a number of professional development classes, employee networking opportunities, tuition reimbursement options, and more.

7. Under Armour

Under Armour offers regular one-on-one performance reviews, where an employee’s needs are assessed. From there, that person can take advantage of a variety of professional development classes, seminars, workshops, and training sessions.

In addition, Under Armour gives team members tuition reimbursement and reimbursement for professional certification study materials and examination fees.

Regardless of the field you go into or the role you want, it’s important to find a company that cares about your professional development. Luckily, there are many great ones to choose from!

Starbucks is dedicated to helping 25,000 employees graduate by 2025 by providing full tuition reimbursement for a bachelor’s degree via Arizona State University’s online program. You only have to work an average of 20 hours per week to access this exciting benefit as well as many others (free drinks, free food, health coverage, 401k, stock, and a free Premium Spotify account to name a few!). You can learn more about the Starbucks College Achievement Plan here.