In my work as both a recruiter and career coach, I’ve observed that job-seekers tend to accept or quit jobs based on the availability of growth opportunities. When professional growth opportunities abound - like clear pathways for promotions, salary increases, and fun new challenges - folks tend to stick around. While many employers in our sector have systems in place to grow their employees, no one will ever obsess over your growth trajectory and opportunities quite like you will. Proactively advocating for your professional growth accelerates your opportunities to learn, grow, earn money, and love where you work. Here’s how:
1) Own your data. Understand your goals and keep track of your progress. If your organization isn’t big on tracking, data, or evaluations, you’ll have to take initiative in this area. I recommend maintaining a running document on your desktop/google drive that you update regularly.
2) Know your goals. Don’t wait for someone else to decide your growth trajectory. Reflect often on when you feel energized, and what you hope to learn and do in the short and long term. Beyond salary increases, are there other things you hope to change about your work and gaps you need to fill in your current set of skills or experiences?
3) Use 1:1 check-ins with your manager strategically. Don’t wait for a manager to ask you about your professional goals or recognize your strengths. Don’t wait for your end-of-year or mid-year meeting. Advocate for creating time in each check-in to receive intentional coaching in your desired areas, and to make your long-term goals an ongoing discussion. Your manager should be your number one work-based champion and collaborator on the road to growth.
4) Prepare and practice asking questions about growth and salary. For some people, discussing goals (whether they are related to salary or desire to gain new skills or seniority) can feel incredibly uncomfortable. You might worry about sounding presumptuous, or feel nervous about discussing money or promotions. Preparing what you want to say in advance (and coming prepared with evidence of impact) will position you for a smoother conversation! Practice with someone you trust, especially someone with successful experience advocating for their own growth or who is on the receiving end of these conversations (like a manager at work). I’ve even had friends who said to their managers (with whom they had an incredible relationship):, “coach me on how to talk to you about my growth and ask for a raise!”
I tell my clients all the time: no one is obsessing about your potential as much as you are (and perhaps your parents and partners!). Don’t sit around waiting for big things to happen. Proactively advocating for yourself at work will make all the difference.
