How to Have a Career Discussion with My Manager?

Posted on | March 17, 2011

Recently, I was asked to be a career expert on Focus.com.  I was quite honored and started browsing their site for questions that I can help answer.  Here is one I found that I wanted to share.    Question: “How can I discuss my career plan with my boss without seeming like I am complaining about my position, or looking to move on?”

My Answer:
Having a career discussion with your manager can be tricky. I think it is important to be careful and not come off like you are complaining or pointing fingers. No manager likes that approach and that would immediately put them on the defensive.

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 on 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 perception of your work so far
2. You have been working at 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 a 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 another career discussion 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 discussion 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 career discussions about your future in this company. or you can decide that this company may not be a long term place for you and start looking.  

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I look forward to your comments below.  I am always in your corner.

-Lei

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