The Profession Map –

what impact will you make?

Find out more at peopleprofession.cipd.org | 1

 ‘The world of work
Peter Cheese, is changing fast. New roles, skills,
CIPD CEO ways of working and organisational
models are emerging. It's vital for people
professionals to position themselves at the heart of
business, driving change that supports the strategic
goals of organisations and fulfilling a wider purpose
of championing better work and working lives. The
Map provides clear guidance for the profession now,
and for the future, supporting individuals in
their development and careers, as well as
helping teams and organisations to
innovate and adapt.’

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Why do we need the
Profession Map?

This is an exciting Apply the Profession Map

time to be a people to make better decisions,
professional. The world act with confidence,
of work is shifting fast. perform at your peak,
Innovation and change is drive change in your
happening everywhere. organisation and
The Profession Map
The future will raise new progress in your career.
provides that foundation
questions, but also new In the process, make a
by setting out the
opportunities. Now more meaningful contribution
knowledge and behaviours
than ever, we all need a to the ultimate purpose
required to make your
strong foundation giving of the people profession:
greatest impact and thrive
us the confidence and championing better work
in the changing world
capabilities to guide our and working lives.
of work.
decision making, actions
and behaviours.

Find out more at peopleprofession.cipd.org | 3

What is the
Profession Map?
The Profession Map sets the
international standard for
people professionals to make
their greatest impact and thrive
in a changing world of work.
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It defines the knowledge,
behaviours and inherent
values underpinning today’s
people profession, and is
the most effective way yet
for people professionals
to make sound decisions
and embrace change in the
modern world of work.
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Core Core Specialist

knowledge behaviours knowledge
• People practice • Ethical practice • Employee experience
• Culture and • Professional courage • Employee relations
behaviour and influence • Inclusion and diversity
• Business acumen • Valuing people • Learning and development
• Evidence-based • Working inclusively • Reward
practice • Commercial drive • Talent management
• Technology  • Passion for learning • Resourcing
and people
• Insights focused • Organisation development
• Change
• Situational and design
decision-making • People analytics

Find out more at peopleprofession.cipd.org | 5

Preparing us all for
the journey ahead
The Profession Map identifies
four different impact levels
and details the knowledge and
behaviours required to excel at
each of them. This means you
can see exactly what it takes to
make a positive contribution,
whether you’re a senior leader,
a dedicated specialist or just
starting out in your field.
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The levels are relevant to all You can
people professionals: progress in
your career by
• regardless of your role,
progressing
sector or specialism
through the
• whether you’re a CIPD
levels, but you
member or not
don’t have to. Many
• whether you’re an employee,
people decide that they can
a consultant or self-employed.
make their greatest impact by
developing their expertise at
one level.
 As you move through
the levels:
• the nature of work
becomes more strategic
• the way you use
information changes
• your degree of
impact increases
• your sphere of
influence widens.

How it all comes together

Professional Core Core ​​​​​​​ Specialist ​​​​​​​ Your best ​​​​​​​

values behaviours knowledge knowledge impact
Guiding you to The way you What you have The technical The uniquely
make better approach to know to be knowledge positive role
people and your work, considered you need if you play in
workplace irrespective of an expert on you choose to creating better
decisions. role, sector or people, work specialise. work and
specialism. and change. working lives.

Find out more at peopleprofession.cipd.org | 7

What can you use it for?

The Profession Map can • stand out as a relevant and

help you: credible practitioner
• understand evidence and
• increase impact and drive
work from a solid foundation
positive change
• challenge and act with
• work at the cutting edge
confidence
of the profession
• plot your own professional
• navigate complexity and
development
uncertainty
• plan your team’s
• develop and demonstrate
professional
your expertise in people,
development.
work and change

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Keeping the profession future-fit
in a changing world of work
The Profession Map is
designed to evolve in line with
the shifting landscape of the
world of work.
The core values and purpose
driving the professional
standards will be the same,
come what may. But as new
roles, specialisms, priorities and
opportunities emerge, the Map
will adapt to incorporate them.
Twice a year, we review the
latest research, listen to and
collaborate with the profession
and beyond and take the
pulse on what's ahead. On
this basis we make changes,
ranging from small tweaks to
fundamental shifts.
It's part of how we're equipping
people professionals to drive
change and shape the future
world of work.
Find out more at peopleprofession.cipd.org | 9
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Issued: May 2021 Reference: 7600 © CIPD 2021 Find out more at peopleprofession.cipd.org

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