The paper presents the findings of a theoretical study aimed at a historico-methodological and achmeological analysis of the formation of the concept of a specialist’s career in his/her professional work, at determining historical stages and scientific approaches of the development of the process of a specialist’s career growth and acmeological development. The paper provides theoretical evidence and definition of a thesis that the study of methodological, research and practical foundations of a career contributes to 1) identifying major concepts in strategic planning of highly efficient professional activity of a specialist and an organization as a whole and 2) generating highly productive authorial work systems, which in turn enhances competitive advantages. The theoretical analysis clarifies preconditions of building a career and identifies historical and methodological stages of the formation of the concept of a specialist’s career, a combination of research approaches of career and acmeological development of a specialist. The research relied on the following methods: a) research and practical analysis of the issue of a specialist’s career growth; b) systematization and interpreting of the results of a theoretical analysis of the issue.