Tips for Grads: Talking with your supervisor about career goals
Career Development
No matter where you are in your career, achieving career goals takes initiative. While you’ve already taken a big step by pursuing your master’s degree online, it’s also smart to have the support of a supervisor. Whether you’re currently working or planning on landing your job after graduation, read these tips for approaching your supervisor regarding your career goals:
Self-reflect before the meeting. What do you want from your career? Where do you see yourself growing? What areas are you ready to leave behind? Go into the meeting with specific career goals.
Keep in mind your employer’s priorities. Where do your goals and your employer’s goals overlap? It will be helpful to make these connections for your supervisor during the course of the conversation.
Have a list of requests, not demands. Be firm, not aggressive. Keep requests positive with “I” statements such as, “Are there projects I could take the lead on?” Emphasize how your requests also benefit your employer.
Leave with tangible steps. After agreeing on goals, develop clear action items. Are you expected to research development opportunities? Is your supervisor going to investigate opportunities for you? Clarifying next steps will help the opportunities materialize.
Share the plan and track progress. Create a timeline with action items. If the plan progress is not meeting your expectations, consider that your values may not align with your supervisor’s.
