How to talk to my boss about career advancement?
June 5, 2019 6:57 PM
I want to know if I can talk to my boss about some issues I'm having about career advancement.
I work in engineering for a decent sized company. Engineers are split into silos for different types of widgets we create. I’ve worked making widgets in primarily a single silo for the 8 years I’ve worked there.
I have many more years of experience before working at this company. I’ve been promoted once in the 8 years (4-5 years ago), but I had to point it out to my boss that my skills were above others at my job level to get that to happen. I’ve been trying to talk to him about how do I get to the next level, but I’m not getting much help.
I noticed recently that people who work at the company, who initially were interns during my time there, are now promoted to the level above me within a few years. They once worked in my silo, but don’t work in my silo anymore. I think there is a problem with promoting people to that level in my silo. (Note: requirements for job levels are standard throughout the organization). Lots and lots of people get promoted to my level with ~2 years working experience.
I’d like to discuss this with my boss. As I see it, if there are people with a couple years of work experience at a job level above me, I’m doing something really wrong or he’s doing something really wrong. Or as I see it, it’s on him because he’s either not giving me the correct feedback or the correct opportunities. If that makes sense, how can I discuss this reasonably with him?
PS I’m just starting to actively interview for new roles (passing technical screenings for the next level up roles), but who knows how long that will take, so I’d like to improve things at my current job if I can.
I work in engineering for a decent sized company. Engineers are split into silos for different types of widgets we create. I’ve worked making widgets in primarily a single silo for the 8 years I’ve worked there.
I have many more years of experience before working at this company. I’ve been promoted once in the 8 years (4-5 years ago), but I had to point it out to my boss that my skills were above others at my job level to get that to happen. I’ve been trying to talk to him about how do I get to the next level, but I’m not getting much help.
I noticed recently that people who work at the company, who initially were interns during my time there, are now promoted to the level above me within a few years. They once worked in my silo, but don’t work in my silo anymore. I think there is a problem with promoting people to that level in my silo. (Note: requirements for job levels are standard throughout the organization). Lots and lots of people get promoted to my level with ~2 years working experience.
I’d like to discuss this with my boss. As I see it, if there are people with a couple years of work experience at a job level above me, I’m doing something really wrong or he’s doing something really wrong. Or as I see it, it’s on him because he’s either not giving me the correct feedback or the correct opportunities. If that makes sense, how can I discuss this reasonably with him?
PS I’m just starting to actively interview for new roles (passing technical screenings for the next level up roles), but who knows how long that will take, so I’d like to improve things at my current job if I can.
As bilabial suggests, it sounds like you're dealing with some kind of workplace disadvantage. It could also be that you're older ("I have many more years of experience before working at this company") in a company that demonstrates nearly actionable levels of age discrimination. Or simply an introvert in a culture that rewards bullshit artists.
It also sounds like you're treating promotion as a matter of seniority. You note, "I’ve been promoted once in the 8 years (5 years ago), but I had to point it out to my boss that my skills were above others at my job level to get that to happen." You also point out that "there are people with a couple years of work experience at a job level above me."
How did those people leapfrog you? Are they more productive (which isn't exactly the same thing as being more skilled)? More importantly, are they perceived as more productive or whatever it is your company seems to value in evaluating engineers for promotion?
I think it also depends a lot on your boss and your relationship with him or her and the culture more generally. Is this the same boss you talked to 4 years ago? Do you feel like your boss likes you and respects your work? Is she someone amenable to rational argument and carefully prepared documentation? Or is he someone who tends to shoot from the hip and bro it up with guys who share his extracurricular interests?
At this point, if you're looking for a new job, it probably can't hurt to meet with your boss and express your concerns or make your case. I might even go in there with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder (or at least in my back pocket). But your best move is probably to find a new position.
posted by bunbury at 8:51 PM on June 5, 2019
It also sounds like you're treating promotion as a matter of seniority. You note, "I’ve been promoted once in the 8 years (5 years ago), but I had to point it out to my boss that my skills were above others at my job level to get that to happen." You also point out that "there are people with a couple years of work experience at a job level above me."
How did those people leapfrog you? Are they more productive (which isn't exactly the same thing as being more skilled)? More importantly, are they perceived as more productive or whatever it is your company seems to value in evaluating engineers for promotion?
I think it also depends a lot on your boss and your relationship with him or her and the culture more generally. Is this the same boss you talked to 4 years ago? Do you feel like your boss likes you and respects your work? Is she someone amenable to rational argument and carefully prepared documentation? Or is he someone who tends to shoot from the hip and bro it up with guys who share his extracurricular interests?
At this point, if you're looking for a new job, it probably can't hurt to meet with your boss and express your concerns or make your case. I might even go in there with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder (or at least in my back pocket). But your best move is probably to find a new position.
posted by bunbury at 8:51 PM on June 5, 2019
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So, don’t ask him why it’s happened that you haven’t been promoted. Don’t point out that you haven’t been promoted.
Simply (sinply. I know, ha) set a meeting with boss to discuss your career path. Have all of your documentation of your accomplishments and company requirements/policy for promotion ready when you ask for the meeting because he may say ‘oh, let’s discuss it right now’ and you don’t need to be caught off guard. Practice having the conversation with a mentor and other professional people from outside your workplace. Practice responding to various scenarios. (Boss may offer a lower raise than is appropriate, may stonewall you, may give vague or non existent feedback.)
And yes. Keep sending your resume out, but also network like you are in fire. Get to meetups if you can. Search your alumni and linkedin network for connections to places you think might be a good fit. Ask directly for introductions and have a good elevator pitch about what you’re looking for.
posted by bilabial at 8:26 PM on June 5, 2019