Growth doesn’t always mean a promotion or a raise, but instead it can mean the advancement of where you’d like your career to go. Taking the time to also grow your skills and knowledge is invaluable in pushing your career forward - and ultimately reaching that place, position, or opportunity you’d like to go. It is important to note that in order to receive any growth opportunities, you must show your supervisor how it can aid and advance your organization. By doing this, they will see that you are not only interested in growing your own abilities, but also in growing the success of your station, and staff.
Use the questions outlined below to help you figure out where you want your career path to take you and how your manager or supervisor can help get you there. Allow these questions to guide your conversation preparations and act as an outline for the conversation with you manager.
Do the Work
When starting to think about moving on or up in your career it helps to know where you’ve been. Every job you’ve held has developed you in some way. Using the following questions, reflect on your career experiences.
- What do you like most about your current job?
- What would you like to do more of? Less of?
- What skills have you strengthened in this job?
- What skills have you learned in this job?
Know Where You’d Like to Go
Managers aren’t mind readers. They can help guide you, but it’s best if you have an idea of where you’d like to go. It can be daunting to figure out where you’d like to end up, but thinking of your next move or the one after can help shape your career journey. Use the questions below to think through where you’d like to transition next and how your current manager can help guide and advocate for you.
- What types of tasks, projects or responsibilities would you like to do more frequently in future roles?
- Where do you see yourself in 1, 3, or 5 years?
- What skills do you need in order to get there?
- How can your manager best help you develop in those skills in your current role?
- How can your manager best help you in achieving your career goals?
- How do you believe you can make greater contributions to the organization?
Have the Talk
Having a discussion like this isn’t comfortable or easy for anyone the first time. Or even the second time. However, armed with where you’ve been, how you’ve excelled and knowledge of where you’d like to go next will help give this conversation structure. Think through the points below prior to your conversation.
- If you have a routine one on one meeting with your manager, let them know you’d like to discuss this topic during the next meeting. Springing this topic on your manager might not be the best approach. Allow them time to prepare and expect this conversation.
- If your organization has structured promotion periods, be sure to have this conversation in advance of the next one. Managers may be unable to do anything if the promotion period has closed or there isn’t enough time to build a case for you.
- Be honest with your manager about your career aspirations and your understanding of different jobs in your organization or industry that match your interests.
- Take notes and welcome feedback from your manager. It can be hard to remember everything from these conversations afterwards. Jot down notes and add any additional thoughts right after the meeting.
