{"id":123439,"date":"2026-07-15T10:28:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T04:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/?p=123439"},"modified":"2026-07-15T10:28:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T04:58:33","slug":"vertical-vs-lateral-career-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/vertical-vs-lateral-career-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Vertical vs Lateral Career Growth: What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>TL;DR Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vertical vs lateral career growth refers to two different ways of moving forward in your career. Vertical career growth means moving upward into higher roles, more authority, and better pay, such as becoming a team lead or manager. Lateral career growth means moving sideways into a new function, domain, or skill area without necessarily changing your seniority. Both are valuable. Choose vertical growth when you want leadership and responsibility. Choose lateral growth when you want broader skills, career flexibility, or a stronger foundation before your next promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vertical vs lateral career growth is one of the most important choices you make when planning your next career move. A promotion is not the only sign of progress, especially when industries are changing quickly and new skills are becoming valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/press\/2025\/01\/future-of-jobs-report-2025-78-million-new-job-opportunities-by-2030-but-urgent-upskilling-needed-to-prepare-workforces\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">The World Economic Forum reports<\/a> <strong>that 22% of jobs may be disrupted by 2030, with 170 million new roles created and 92 million displaced, leading to a net gain of 78 million jobs. It also notes that nearly 40% of job skills are expected to change by 2030.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, the real question is not just \u201cHow do I get promoted?\u201d It is \u201cWhich direction will help me grow stronger, faster, and more sustainably?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Vertical vs Lateral Career Growth: Quick Comparison<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before choosing a direction, you need a clear comparison. The table below explains the difference between vertical career growth and lateral career growth in a simple, practical way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Factor<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Vertical Career Growth<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Lateral Career Growth<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Meaning<\/td><td>Moving upward in the same career track<\/td><td>Moving sideways into a different role, function, or domain<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main goal<\/td><td>Promotion, authority, leadership<\/td><td>Skill expansion, flexibility, exposure<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Example<\/td><td>Software Developer \u2192 Senior Developer \u2192 Tech Lead<\/td><td>Software Developer \u2192 DevOps Engineer or Product Analyst<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Salary impact<\/td><td>Often higher due to seniority and responsibility<\/td><td>May be similar initially, but can improve long-term earning options<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best for<\/td><td>Professionals ready to lead teams or own outcomes<\/td><td>Professionals who want broader skills or a career switch<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Risk<\/td><td>Higher pressure, people management, accountability<\/td><td>Learning curve, temporary adjustment period<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Success measure<\/td><td>Title, salary, team ownership, decision-making power<\/td><td>New skills, domain knowledge, cross-functional value<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Career advancement style<\/td><td>Depth and authority<\/td><td>Breadth and adaptability<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Vertical vs Lateral Career Growth Comparison<\/strong><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is Vertical vs Lateral Career Growth?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vertical vs lateral career growth compares two career advancement paths. Vertical growth means moving upward into higher positions with more responsibility, authority, and pay. Lateral growth means moving across roles or departments to build new skills, gain broader exposure, and improve long-term career flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is Vertical Career Growth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vertical career growth is the traditional upward path in a career. It usually involves promotions, higher job titles, larger responsibilities, better compensation, and more decision-making authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a marketing executive becoming a marketing manager is experiencing vertical career growth. A developer becoming a senior developer, then a tech lead, follows the same pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Vertical Career Growth Works Best<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vertical career growth works best when you already enjoy your current function and want to deepen your expertise. It is also suitable when you are ready to manage people, budgets, projects, or business outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should consider vertical growth if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>You want leadership responsibilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are strong in your current domain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want higher authority and visibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are ready for performance pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your organization has a clear promotion path.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Is Lateral Career Growth?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lateral career growth means moving sideways into a different role, team, technology, or business function. Your job level may remain similar, but your skill set becomes wider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a customer support executive moving into customer success, a data analyst moving into business analytics, or a QA tester moving into automation testing are all examples of lateral career growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When Lateral Career Growth Works Best<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lateral career growth works best when your current role feels limiting or when you want to build future-ready skills. It is especially useful in tech, analytics, design, product, marketing, and operations roles where adjacent skills create better opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should consider lateral growth if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>You want to switch domains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You feel stuck in your current role.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to become more versatile.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your industry is changing due to automation or AI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want to explore before committing to leadership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #099f4e; border: 3px solid #110053; border-radius: 12px; padding: 18px 22px; color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 18px; font-family: Montserrat, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15); max-width: 750px;\">\n  <strong style=\"font-size: 22px; color: #FFFFFF;\">\ud83d\udca1Did You Know?<\/strong> \n<br \/><br \/> \nThe World Economic Forum states that 59 out of every 100 workers may need reskilling or upskilling by 2030. This makes lateral career growth valuable because it helps professionals build adjacent skills before disruption affects their role.\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Vertical vs Lateral Career Move: Which One Should You Choose?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing between a vertical vs lateral career move depends on your current strengths, career goals, and market opportunities. Neither option is automatically better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A vertical move helps when you want to climb within your existing track. A lateral move helps when you want to expand your range, shift domains, or become more adaptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choose Vertical Career Growth If You Want:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Higher title and pay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leadership opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deeper domain authority<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bigger projects and decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-term executive or managerial roles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Choose Lateral Career Growth If You Want:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>New skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better career flexibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A domain switch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cross-functional experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A stronger foundation before promotion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Simple Decision Framework<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask yourself these four questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Do I enjoy my current domain enough to grow deeper in it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Am I ready to lead people or own bigger outcomes?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is my current role future-proof for the next 3\u20135 years?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Would a new skill area improve my long-term value?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If your answers point toward leadership, choose vertical growth. If they point toward skill expansion or career change, choose lateral growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Also Read: <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/career-options-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Top Career Options in 2026<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Types of Career Growth Beyond Promotions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Career growth is not limited to promotions. Modern professionals grow through skills, networks, projects, leadership, and domain shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why understanding the types of career growth helps you avoid comparing your journey with someone else\u2019s timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Types of Career Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Type of Career Growth<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What It Means<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Example<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vertical growth<\/td><td>Moving upward in role or title<\/td><td>Analyst \u2192 Senior Analyst<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Lateral growth<\/td><td>Moving across roles or functions<\/td><td>Developer \u2192 Cloud Engineer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Skill-based growth<\/td><td>Learning high-value tools or technologies<\/td><td>Learning Python, SQL, AI tools, or DevOps<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Leadership growth<\/td><td>Managing teams or projects<\/td><td>Individual contributor \u2192 Team Lead<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Financial growth<\/td><td>Increasing earning potential<\/td><td>Moving into higher-paying domains<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Network growth<\/td><td>Building professional relationships<\/td><td>Working with cross-functional teams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Portfolio growth<\/td><td>Building proof of work<\/td><td>Projects, case studies, GitHub, design portfolio<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Types of Career Growth<\/strong><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Career Growth Strategies to Plan Your Next Move<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best career growth strategies combine self-awareness, market awareness, and skill-building. You should not make a move only because someone else got promoted or changed jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/business.linkedin.com\/learn\/resources\/workplace-learning-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn\u2019s 2025 Workplace Learning Report<\/a> states that <strong>49% of learning and talent development professionals<\/strong> say executives are concerned employees do not have the right skills to execute business strategy. It also notes that career progress is people\u2019s No. 1 motivation to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Audit Your Current Role<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by checking whether your current role is helping you grow. Look at your responsibilities, learning curve, salary progression, and future demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Am I learning something new every quarter?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is my role becoming more valuable or less valuable?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do I have a visible path to career advancement?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are my skills transferable to other roles?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 2: Map Your Skill Gaps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your next move should be based on skill gaps, not guesswork. Compare your current skills with job descriptions for roles you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you are a manual tester and want lateral growth into automation testing, you may need Selenium, Java or Python, API testing, and CI\/CD basics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Build Proof Before Asking for Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Managers and recruiters trust proof more than intention. Build small projects, dashboards, case studies, automation scripts, product documents, or design portfolios depending on your field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This makes both vertical and lateral career growth easier because you are showing evidence, not just ambition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Discuss Growth Early<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not wait for appraisal season to talk about career growth. Have a clear conversation with your manager about your direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can say: <em>\u201cI want to grow toward a senior role in this track. What outcomes should I own in the next six months?\u201d<\/em><br>Or: <em>\u201cI want to explore a lateral move into analytics. Can I support one cross-functional project?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Salary and Career Benefits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Salary growth depends on industry, company size, location, performance, and skill demand. In general, vertical career growth may improve salary faster when it leads to leadership roles, while lateral career growth can improve long-term earning power by opening better-fit or higher-demand roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gallup.com\/workplace\/349484\/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Gallup\u2019s 2026 workplace data<\/strong><\/a><strong> shows that only 20% of employees worldwide were engaged at work in 2025, while 52% said it was a good time to find a job where they live.<\/strong> This highlights why career growth and role fit matter for both motivation and mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Benefit<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Vertical Growth<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Lateral Growth<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Salary increase<\/td><td>Often faster through promotions<\/td><td>May grow after skill transition<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Job satisfaction<\/td><td>High if you enjoy leadership<\/td><td>High if you enjoy learning variety<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Market value<\/td><td>Strong within one domain<\/td><td>Strong across multiple domains<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Risk level<\/td><td>Pressure from bigger responsibility<\/td><td>Risk from learning a new role<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Long-term advantage<\/td><td>Authority and leadership credibility<\/td><td>Adaptability and career resilience<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Salary and Career Benefits of Vertical vs Lateral Growth<\/strong><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Vertical and Lateral Career Growth Look in the Workplace&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Career growth becomes easier to understand when you see how it plays out in actual roles. The examples below show how professionals can move upward through vertical career growth or move across functions through lateral career growth without losing momentum.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Example 1: Vertical Career Growth in IT Services<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A software engineer at an IT services company starts as a backend developer. Over five years, they become a senior developer, then a technical lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is vertical career growth because the person stays in the same broad track but gains ownership, mentoring responsibilities, architecture decisions, and team-level accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Example 2: Lateral Career Growth in E-Commerce<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A digital marketing executive at an e-commerce company moves into marketing analytics. The person learns SQL, dashboards, attribution analysis, and customer segmentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is lateral career growth because the job level may not change immediately, but the professional becomes more valuable by combining marketing knowledge with data skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Common Mistakes to Avoid<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Career growth becomes easier when you avoid common traps. These mistakes often delay promotions, switches, and long-term career advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Chasing only job titles:<\/strong> A better title without real skill growth can limit you later. Choose roles that improve your capability, not just your LinkedIn headline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ignoring lateral opportunities:<\/strong> Many professionals reject lateral moves because they do not look like promotions. But a smart lateral move can lead to better vertical growth later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Moving without a skill plan:<\/strong> Switching roles without preparing relevant skills creates stress. Before a lateral move, learn the core tools and workflows of the new function.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Waiting for managers to plan your career:<\/strong> Your manager can support your growth, but they cannot design your entire career. Own your roadmap and communicate it clearly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Confusing comfort with readiness:<\/strong> Staying in a familiar role may feel safe, but it can slow your growth. Review your role every six months to check if you are still learning.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wrapping Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Vertical vs lateral career growth is not about choosing the \u201cbetter\u201d path. It is about choosing the right path for your current career stage. Vertical career growth helps you gain authority, leadership, and faster title progression. Lateral career growth helps you build adaptability, new skills, and stronger long-term options. The smartest career advancement plan often uses both: move laterally to build high-value skills, then move vertically when you are ready to lead. Start by auditing your current role, identifying skill gaps, and choosing one growth direction for the next six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are planning a vertical or lateral career move but feel your skills need a serious upgrade, check out HCL GUVI\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/zen-class\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_campaign=vertical-vs-lateral-career-growth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Career Programs<\/a>. You can explore tracks like Data Science, AI &amp; Machine Learning, MERN Full Stack, UI\/UX Design, DevOps &amp; Cloud, VLSI, Product Management, and more, while learning from industry mentors, building practical projects, and connecting with 1000+ hiring partners to move ahead with more confidence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035144229\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>1. What is vertical vs lateral career growth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Vertical vs lateral career growth compares upward and sideways career movement. Vertical growth means promotions and higher authority, while lateral growth means moving across roles or domains to build broader skills.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035156767\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>2. Is lateral career growth bad for career advancement?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>No, lateral career growth can be very useful for career advancement. It helps you build transferable skills, explore new domains, and prepare for stronger future opportunities.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035172943\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>3. What is an example of vertical career growth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>An example of vertical career growth is moving from software developer to senior software developer, then to tech lead. The role becomes more senior with greater responsibility and decision-making power.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035188167\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>4. What is an example of lateral career growth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>An example of lateral career growth is moving from manual testing to automation testing. The level may stay similar at first, but the new skills can improve future career options.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035206254\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>5. Which is better: vertical career growth or lateral career growth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Vertical career growth is better if you want leadership, authority, and deeper expertise. Lateral career growth is better if you want new skills, flexibility, or a domain switch.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035222103\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>6. When should I make a lateral career move?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>You should consider a lateral career move when your current role feels stagnant, your industry is changing, or a related skill area offers better future opportunities.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035237653\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>7. Can lateral growth lead to higher salary later?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, lateral growth can lead to higher salary later if it moves you into a high-demand skill area. For example, moving from support to cloud operations or from marketing to analytics can improve long-term earning potential.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784035261886\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>8. How do I plan my career growth strategy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Start by auditing your current role, identifying skill gaps, researching target roles, building proof of work, and discussing growth opportunities with your manager. A clear six-month plan works better than vague ambition.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;DR Summary Vertical vs lateral career growth refers to two different ways of moving forward in your career. Vertical career growth means moving upward into higher roles, more authority, and better pay, such as becoming a team lead or manager. Lateral career growth means moving sideways into a new function, domain, or skill area without [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":123475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"views":"36","authorinfo":{"name":"Saanchi Bhardwaj","url":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/author\/saanchi\/"},"thumbnailURL":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Vertical-vs-lateral-career-growth-300x116.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123439"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123439"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123478,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123439\/revisions\/123478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.guvi.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}