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How can I discuss my career plan with my manager?
How can I discuss my career plan with my boss without seeming like I am complaining about my position, or looking to move on?
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2 Answers
I would suggest focusing on your career goals and aspirations as opposed to what is wrong in your current job. Talk to your manager about your strengths and developmental opportunities as well as the experiences you think you need to develop and reach your career goals. Ask him/her for some input on how you could get those experiences as well as have your own ideas about what you are willing to do to advance and grow your career. By keeping the focus of the conversation on your career goals and aspirations and your plan to achieve them, it becomes more about your career growth as opposed to what may be wrong in your current job and will hopefully keep you from coming across as if you are complaining about your job.
Talking to a manager can be tricky. I think you are right to be careful and not come off like you are complaining or pointing fingers.
I would suggest setting up a meeting with your manager to ask for feedback on your work. You can title the meeting "Feedback and career progression discussion." You are asking for feedback. This will not put your manager in the defensive. On the contrary, he or she will feel good that you are proactive and want his/her advice.
During the meeting, you can ask him/her a few key questions like the following. May even help to put these questions in the meeting request so that he/she can think about what to say beforehand
1. I have worked in this job for xx months, I would really like to find out how I am doing? What is my strength and where I can develop?
Ask your manager for specific examples to truly understand his or her perspection of your work so far
2. You have been in this company for awhile. I would really like your advice on my potential career here. What do you think my career can look like in this company? Where do you think I could be in 2 years, 5 year? What options do you think I have?
If your manager is any good, he/she would make an concerted effort to show you options and where you could be in a few years. He/she should in reverse ask you where do you want to be? what do you hope to develop? This may even lead to conversation about how you like your job now. Be prepare to answer this and have a dialogue. If you want changes in your job now, be sure to come prepared with a few suggestions instead of just complaints.
A career conversation is a good thing. I have been a manager for many years and appreciate it when my team members approach me for this kind of discussion. Just by setting up this meeting, you are subtly signaling to your manager that you have ambitions and want to go places.
Depending on how the conversation goes, you can either decide to trust your manager more and have more discussions about your future in this company. or you can decide that this company may not be long term and start looking. Let me know if I can help you any further. Good luck!
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