How can I describe my dream job without sounding foolish?

October 27, 2015 11:13 AM

I supervise 12 software developers and analysts, but also volunteer a lot for corporate-wide projects. It's extra work with no extra pay, but I get to have an impact on the business and learn new things, and now it's led to a "write your own ticket" offer that I need help in answering.

Last week, a VP invited me over for a chat about my future, in which I got some praise that surprised and gratified me, and at the end asked me, "(Mogur), there's so much more you could be doing for (the company). We're reorganizing, and I want you to let me know what you want to be doing by this time next year."

Yikes.

It is phrased like a blank check, but it isn't, of course. She wants to know that I understand the company and myself enough to ask for the right new role for myself, and she may already have an idea in mind. I know what my dream job is, of course (basically, Executive Director of Corporate Applications) but am worried that it's too big of a jump from my current role (from 12 staff to 120), and I'll sound delusional. But then I worry that I'll be too modest and low-ball myself and miss out on a great opportunity.

What should I tell her?

posted by Mogur to Work & Money (10 answers total)

How many levels up is the Exec Director job up from where you are? Is it a job someone is currently in?
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:22 AM on October 27, 2015

Best answer: You can identify that as your goal, say that it's a big jump, and then talk about what slice of that you think you could take on next year and what you'd want to accomplish there. Aim big, aim for the stars, but have a pitch in place for something that's a big reach but "only" a big reach.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:26 AM on October 27, 2015 [5 favorites]

Best answer: I know what my dream job is, of course (basically, Executive Director of Corporate Applications) but am worried that it's too big of a jump from my current role (from 12 staff to 120), and I'll sound delusional.

Even if it's too big of a jump for right now, if your management thinks you're great, letting them know where you want to be eventually will let them get you on the path there.
posted by Candleman at 11:26 AM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: "My eventual goal is Executive Director of Corporate Applications. I realize this is not a one-year plan, so I would really like to help establish what the levels and responsibilities between where I am today and where I want to be are, and help position myself for that move up the ladder."
posted by xingcat at 11:44 AM on October 27, 2015 [7 favorites]

Best answer: But... could it be a one-year plan? I wouldn't count yourself out of that. I'd phrase it exactly as you have here: "I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about my goals with you. My dream job is Executive Director of Corporate Applications, and I envision that as a job where I could do X, Y, and Z. What do you think of that?" That would leave the door open for the VP to say, "Great, you start tomorrow," and also to say something like, "Since you like to do X, Y, and Z, what about a different role where you would focus on those things?" I don't think you need to actually define the job -- saying where you'd like to be sounds like a perfect way to give the VP a chance to understand what you'd ideally want, and to think about where that fits in with the organization's needs. Also, I like your phrasing of "dream job," which will give the VP the idea that your dream job is right here doing something that's useful to the company.
posted by chickenmagazine at 12:36 PM on October 27, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Yeah, you'd be surprised how thin the career line between managing a small staff and managing a large staff can wind up being. "There's so much more you could be doing for the company" is their way of saying they think you're bigger than the job you have now, and if you tell them that you want that ED position you could very well wind up being told "ok, cool, you start in February" or similar. That's exactly the kind of jump that they could already have in mind for you.

Like others here have said, it can't hurt to lay out that that's where you want to wind up.
posted by Itaxpica at 12:57 PM on October 27, 2015 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: fingersandtoes, it's skipping one level - There's an intervening step where I'd be running 3 or 4 workshops of my current size. THEN, up to the 120+ staff in a central unit. Hence the worry.
posted by Mogur at 2:42 PM on October 27, 2015

Best answer: That's not a crazy leap. I agree with the folks who're saying you should name that as your dream job (and why, i.e. how you'd contribute in that role) and frame the conversation as "how should we plan to get me there." The one thing I'd caution is, if there's someone in that exact job now, be delicate in how you phrase it so that it doesn't get back to that person that you're somehow gunning for their job. Use a descriptor of the kinds of responsibilities - level and subject matter - rather than the particular job title that person is in.
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:50 PM on October 27, 2015

Best answer: Also consider writing a completely new job description. Don't box yourself in by only looking at existing positions! Seriously write down all your favorite tasks, even if they seem unrelated. Your VP may be intrigued and work with you. If they had something more traditional in mind, it's easy enough to get on board with that. But you may never get such an opportunity again, so you might as well shoot for the moon!
posted by wwartorff at 5:56 PM on October 27, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Follow-up: The dream job didn't happen.

Well, I had the convos, and followed up with more conversations, and was invited to apply for dream jobs, and....

...was not successful. So much for that. Turns out I don't interview very well. Dammit.
posted by Mogur at 10:27 AM on March 30, 2016