The One Career Development Strategy Most People Neglect… Which Could Be Costing You
So, you’ve landed a really great job doing something you actually enjoy. You’re no longer counting the minutes until you get to leave, and it feels awesome. Congratulations! This is a huge win; less than 30 percent of workers end up with their ideal job (or a job in a related field) according to a LinkedIn survey. You’re already way ahead of the pack!
Now that you have a career you love, it’s important to think about how you’re going to develop it further. November is Career Development Month, which is a great time to think about how you want to grow beyond your current role. How do you see yourself 10, 15, and even 25 years down the road?
When it comes to career development, most people know the basics: prioritize continuing education, seek out lateral moves within the company, and find new ways to get invested in your work and the organization. However, there’s one career development strategy you’re probably neglecting, and it could be costing you...literally.
Share Your Goals With Your Boss
Most people have a check-in with their boss once a year, which coincides with their annual performance evaluation. You might quickly fumble through a few career goals if prompted, but mostly you’re distracted because you’re thinking about all the information you just received. You’re also probably unprepared because you view this annual meeting as a “be quiet and listen” situation rather than a conversation.
We’re strong advocates of sharing your career development goals and vision with your boss, but preferably at a time that’s not already allocated for something else. This probably means that you’ll need to approach your boss with a meeting request and explain to him or her why it’s important to you and valuable for them. Their time is limited, so illustrating how this will benefit them — and the company of course — is key.
So, How Does it Benefit Them?
If your place of employment has a very clear path for you to follow as you advance in your career, consider yourself lucky. Most careers aren’t as defined, especially these days. Start-ups are notoriously lacking in the career development arena, as everything is being taken one day at a time. This can be stressful not only on the employees, but also on the management team.
Taking on the task of outlining your career development plan and the steps you’re going to take to get there is an extremely smart move. It shows your manager that you’re fully invested in your growth, and it saves them from having to map it all out for you! Bosses really appreciate when you take the initiative to do this kind of reflection and planning without being prompted. As an added bonus, it allows you to have more control over your future with the company rather than leaving it all in someone else’s hands.
Don’t Short-Change Yourself Any Longer
The title of this post is, “The One Career Development Strategy Most People Neglect… Which Could Be Costing You” and we want to talk about how you might actually be short-changing yourself by not having the career development conversation with your boss.
You Might be Missing Out on Projects - If your boss doesn’t know your career goals, they may not be mentioning your name in relation to opportunities that are available. You have to let people know what you want in order to be considered. It’s that simple.
You Might be Missing Out on Higher Pay - When you let your boss in on your goals and make it a point to seek their feedback within an agreed-upon time period, you show them that you’re serious about your growth. This could mean more promotions, more raises, and more upward movement within the company.
You Might be Missing Out on Networking Opportunities - Let’s face it, your boss wants to look good to their boss, too. Promoting people on their team really highlights how effective they are as a boss and mentor. Because of this, there’s a good chance your boss will be willing to help you with the introductions and recommendations you need to reach your goals.
If you want to continue to grow within your company, you have to be ready to take matters into your own hands. However, it is SO important that you share your plan and your vision with your boss. It’s your future, and no one is as invested in it as you are. Ask for what you think you deserve, work hard, and don’t forget to lean on the people who are there to help you grow.
Want to dive deep into a career development plan that you can start to execute on? We’re here to help! Just reach out to us and we can set up a virtual meeting to get you started on the right path.